9/11

Today is September 11, and it is a time for us to look back, and to remember what happened on that day in 2001. You probably remember what you were doing on that day. Where were you? Who were you with? What were your experience like? It is important that we share those memories, so that we may find healing, peace and hope.

I remembered on that day (September 11, 2001), at the time, I was in the Seminary at Mundelein, which was located North of Chicago. That morning, we had our usual Morning Prayer, and attended classes. We had a class on Moral Theology, and the professor told us about the news, that there was a plane that flew into one of the Twin Towers. So all the classes were canceled for the rest of the day. We all went back to our rooms. Our eyes were glued to the television. As we were watching the news, a second plane flew into the other building of the World Trade Center. At the time, we were all in shocked, and we didn't really know how to respond. Daily Mass was around 11:15am, so we all went to Mass to pray.

The priests had their rotation to be the Presider. On that day, I remembered it was Fr. James Mcilhone, who was selected to be the Presider. During the Homily, he shared about his shock, and he didn't really know what to say. He asked us to spend about 5 minutes in silence as we pray for the people who have died, and for their families. Pray for our nation in the midst of tragedy, and continued prayer for peace. After Mass, we went to lunch, but many of us lost our appetite and couldn't eat, and we went back to our rooms and continued watching the news.

As we remember back on this day of infamy, let us hold on to the words of Jesus who said: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

On September 11, there were four planes that were hijacked by terrorists. Two of the planes flew into the twin towers. One flew into the Pentagon. And the other fourth one was United 93. It's target was the White House, State Capital. There are many documentaries and movies about the fourth plane. Families have shared their experience, receiving phone calls from loved ones on board the plane. They shared that the members on the plane planned a way to fight back. They quickly devised a plan to fight back. Since they had no weapons of defense, they had to use anything available, such as soda cans, hot water, anything that they could find. They had to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans.

It is also believed that there were jets that were sent to stop the plane. But since the jets didn't have enough firepower to stop it, one of them said that he would resort to Plan B, which is to ram it, if necessary. They had to do something to prevent it from getting any worse. It would be like the Utiliarian Philosophy: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” But the people on board 93 were able to prevent the terrorists from hitting its intended target. But unfortunately, they crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. What the people on board did, is considered courageous, and heroic.

Jesus also taught: Blessed are they who suffer for the sake of righteousness, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these heroes.