What to do with a Gospel text that asks us to forgive two days after 9/11?

(RNS) —  The Scripture reading this Sunday (Sept. 13), when many U.S. congregations were remembering the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, seemed to be out of sync with where we are as Americans.

For Catholic churches and churches using the Common Lectionary, the first reading from Sirach (27:30-28:7) and the Gospel text (Matthew 18:21-35) spoke of mercy and forgiveness.

And let’s be honest; when we think of 9/11, our thoughts do not naturally go to thoughts of forgiveness.

So what do we do with these readings?

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I think the first point to make is that those involved in the crimes of 9/11 were full of anger, hate and a desire for vengeance. Their crimes show where anger, hate and a desire for vengeance can lead.

“Wrath and anger are hateful things,” says Sirach. They do not lead to justice; they in fact are rejected by God. “The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance.” Anyone who thinks that the killing of innocent civilians is blessed by God is a blasphemer.

But what about us? How do we deal with forgiveness on an anniversary like this?

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