Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

The post-mortem has begun. The Afghanistan war was America’s response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, a day of great evil. Like Pearl Harbor, such evil demanded a response. The twenty-year operation started with great fervor. After twenty years of war and nation-building, the American military left Afghanistan. Conducting the post-mortem, talk radio and politicians and historians ask why the patient died.

We people of faith bring to the post-mortem a vital truth. We who put our faith in God must make known God’s decisive response to evil.

In the gospel for this Sunday, September 12, Jesus taught that he must suffer greatly and be rejected by the leaders and be killed (Mark 8:27-35). God’s response to evil was not shock and awe. His answer to evil was the cross.

Through his cross, Christ crushed our true enemy, the devil, and won the victory over sin and death. He overcame hatred with the blood of the cross. On the third day, he rose in triumph. This truth is the heart of our faith. Upon it, the salvation of the world depends.

Franciscan Father Joseph Bayne said, “In the days following the tragedy, some said they saw the face of the devil in the smoke at Ground Zero. Many asked me about the same, and my answer hasn't changed in 10 years. No, I did not see the devil's face at Ground Zero. I saw the face of God in the people working, caring, sweating, crying, rescuing, recovering and being very spiritual in their very humanness. I was moved and changed and felt God's hand in the goodness that followed such tragedy.” He summed up his response. “My ministry embodied the prayer of Saint Francis, ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’.”

Our first response to the evil of September 11, 2001 is to pray as Jesus taught us, “Deliver us from evil.” We put our faith in God to save us from evil and grant us his peace in accordance with his will.

Prayer is necessary and good. It leads us to respond to evil. On Sunday, my flocknote email will look at five fitting responses to evil.

In the meantime, join me for the best prayer we can offer, the Mass. The 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States is this coming Saturday. The prayers for the 8:30 morning Mass on Saturday will be the Mass for Peace and Justice.

In Christ,

Father David