September 11

As I imagine most Americans can, at least those old enough, I remember where I was the morning of September 11. I was outside for early marching band practice on the FHS football field, which was right next to the FAA building. During the middle of rehearsal, sirens started coming from the FAA, and as I looked to the sidelines, I saw that some of the injured band members were huddled around a radio. Despite not knowing what was happening, something felt not right. I went into my second hour class - American History with Mrs. Lund - and the first thing I saw was the TV on CNN, with a view of Manhattan covered in thick black smoke. I recall not knowing what to think, because it didn't look real - it looked like a movie or something. In every class for the rest of the day, we spent it watching CNN.

It was terrifying, and may it not happen again.

Anyway, the following was the ELCA reading for today, which apparently was unplanned, but particularly appropriate.

Matthew 18:

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”