THANK YOU MOUNT ST. MARY’S:

Our connections with Mount St. Mary’s University run very deep. Fr. Leo has been a professor at the Seminary since 2007, and had his famous “Throwdown! With Bobby Flay” filmed on campus. Even our Project Manager, Joe Hansbrough and his wife Erica, are alumni (Class of ’05)! So we take great pride in welcoming them as one of our new sponsors to help us spread our movement.

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Decorating a Difficult Decade

This Sunday marks the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in America.  Ironically, the numbers to dial for an emergency – 9-1-1 – share a name with one of the most tragic days in human history – particularly for those in America’s Pentagon, a plane that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, and those in the two towers in New York City.  This upcoming 9.11.11 reminds me to dial God directly in prayer to help us all get through difficult times, difficult anniversaries, and this particular decade of memories.

(Site of the former Twin Towers two years ago in the midst of building the memorial park.)

I remember that day quite clearly, even 10 years later.  As I type this E-Blast, I can still feel the brokenness, pain, and sadness.  As a recently ordained priest in his first priestly assignment, I remember feeling rather helpless – in fact powerless.

As a priest, I know I received great God-given “power” to absolve people’s sins, to confect the Eucharist, and to give people hope, even in the midst of great despair.  My brother priests and I used every ounce of God’s Grace to try to help people still believe in a loving God, to have hope, and to encourage faithful prayer on September 12, September 13, and every day after!

(Shrine in a Catholic Church in New York City, built out of the broken structure of the Twin Towers.)

But still, it wasn’t easy.  I still felt powerless and weak, seemingly overwhelmed by the amount of anger, hate, and evil that takes over the hearts, minds, and souls of terrorists who kill innocent people in God’s name?  Many decided that the only legitimate conclusion was that those wretchedly confused people – the terrorists – believed in a wrong, a false, or perhaps, an evil god.

But in order to get beyond a terrorist’s anger and hate, so as not to succumb to this powerful evil ourselves, we (especially as Americans) have to celebrate this upcoming 10-year anniversary with a great sense of faith and God’s Grace.

Enter, Grace Before Meals and grace before this difficult decade of remembrance.

(Grace Before Meals presentation at St. Paul’s Church on the Upper West Side.)

It’s worth reminding our growing family, that our international GBM movement to strengthen families around the dinner table “began” because of September 11, 2001.  The first chapter of our book describes the ironic – providential – twists and turns that started it all.  In fact, that chapter is accompanied with the recipe that bested Bobby Flay – the Fusion Steak Fajitas!

(Have I seen you before somewhere, maybe?)

As I prepare to remember this 10-year anniversary of 9/11, I realize now how God has taken one of the uglier days of humanity and has used it to teach us lessons on how to live better, more holy lives – beginning with a Supper Jesus had with His disciples.  Similar to our experience of 9/11, Christians see how Jesus’ terribly tragic day – Good Friday – also initiated a lifetime of blessings for those who practice their faith in the True God of Love.  God’s power can bring about good things – His blessings – even out of tragedy!

(Thank God for the bravery of the New York City Fire Fighters and all emergency responders.)

The reality of hope in the midst of tragedy and difficult memories is worth discussing with your family and friends, perhaps around a special anniversary September 11 meal.

Ten years after that tragic day, I marvel at how God has decorated the lives of believers and seekers of truth – infusing people who have suffered the death of a loved one in one of those attacks – giving them enduring faith, abiding hope, and unconditional love.  Personally, I’ve experienced how a realistic decade of prayer doesn’t absolve the pain and sadness, but timely anniversaries, celebrated well, can help us manage, understand, and learn to become better members of the human family.  These tragedies can simply be a reason to continue the hate or a lifelong lesson on how to live better.

(If New York City’s Macy’s can encourage people to believe, then Grace Before Meals gives us a true reason to believe.)

Over these past 10 years of 9/11 anniversaries, I’ve tried to continue using the priestly powers of God’s Church to reconcile people to God and one another.  It’s working, a little at a time.  And now, with Grace Before Meals, I also use a very powerful tool – a simple meal – to remind people that if God is part of that celebration, we can truly remember this Sunday’s anniversary family dinner with growing faith, hope, and love.

(These two children were adopted from a Philippine orphanage, and now they have a home to celebrate their lives, their family, and every special birthday and memory – around a table filled with grace!)

Let us pray:

Father in Heaven, give us grace to grow in the virtues that help us get through life’s difficult anniversaries – such as someone’s death, a breakup, a war, or a tragedy.  We know that people continue to struggle, and that terrorism remains a constant threat in our global family.  Teach us to not be afraid, to be strong, and to see how Your goodness triumphs over all evil!  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(People praying before lighted candles at a Shrine in Lourdes, France, where many have experienced great miracles and healings.)

Do you remember what you were doing 10 years ago on September 11?  How has your faith grown since then?  What will you do to commemorate this event?  As a special day for all of us at Grace Before Meals, please continue to pray for us; support our movement by sharing our e-mails or purchasing a copy of our book for yourself or your friends; and most importantly, spend more time with people you love around the dinner table.  Your comments encourage us to keep up our efforts in this fight against the forces that want to tear families apart.  Post your comments below!

Posted in Dinner Discussion, Grace Before Meals, In Memory, Prayers, Special Religious Theme | 3 Comments