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Before I forget...
The week of September 11 was a difficult week for all Americans and our friends throughout the world. There was a sense of great loss: of lives, of security and the belief that our country was safe from terrorism. All that changed on September 11. We were sad, we were grieving, and we were mourning. But, we've been told by our President Mr. Bush, "to go back to our lives and routines, and that is good. Even grief recedes with time and grace."
Can we really go back to our familiar routines? I'd bet my last dollar that a book is being written on how to go on living in the face of terrorism. Yes, another "self-help" book! If you go to your favorite bookstore, "self-help" is a popular and a fast-growing area of interest in our society. Why hire a carpenter or electrician for your home repairs? Learn to do it yourself. Why take your pet to obedience classes? Do it yourself. Why go to a therapist or a marriage counselor? Read a book on how-to-fix yourself and your marriage. There are books on leadership, how to be your own boss, taking control of your own life, how to Swim with the Sharks, etc. All these books tell us we don't need other's help. "I" can do it all myself - just left me find a good book! And, what about the biography of a woman who was "dirt poor", with twelve children, her husband left her, she was on welfare, and she went to being a millionaire in less than a year! That famous "rags-to-riches" story that makes us wonder if the same could happen to you and me!
When I was an eighth-grader, my parents thought (correctly) I was hanging around with the wrong crowd. My father would give me that famous speech most teenagers get from their parents. "Liam (Gaelic for William and his term of endearment for me) are you a leader or a follower?" I got the same speech from my high-school principal. To tell you the truth, I didn't mind following the crowd at times. After all, I was the number six of seven sons. Do you think my older brothers were going to listen to me? Now that I am "the family priest" they do think I have most of the answers.
There are times when we are leaders and times we are followers. Sometimes our lives are out of control and we need to ask for help and direction. Events happen in our lives that we have no control over. We are not always the driver; sometimes we are the passenger. You can't buy a book on -how-to-get-to-heaven-by-yourself, nor a book on-how-to-be-the-best-Christian-you-can-be.
We are followers of Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He calls all of us to be his followers, to surrender ourselves completely to the will of God. He is the leader - who shows us a more excellent way of living life now and forever.
As we return to our "familiar routines," we must remember and re-dedicate ourselves to being followers of Christ Jesus. Yes, we live in a world that is looking for and admires strong leaders - the gift and ability to be in charge, take command, manage others, control situations and influence the course of world events. But we are first and foremost people of faith - Jews, Muslims, Christians - striving to do the will of God. Will we be counter-cultural?
As Christians we live by a different set of rules. We are disciples of the Teacher, the Master, the Leader. We assemble every Sunday to be nourished by the Leader's words and life in the Eucharist. We discern the will of God for us as individuals and as communities of faith.
The events of September 11, 2001, have helped me turn to the Lord in a new way. As I go back to my daily routines, I realize how much I need to follow Jesus Christ and do God's will every day of my life. I am not ashamed to say that I am a follower& of Christ. Do you want to follow, too?
Fr. Bill
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