God of the ages—
Before your eyes all empires rise and fall, yet you are changeless.
Be near us in this age of uncertainty and in these moments of remembrance. Uphold those who work and watch and wait and weep and love. By your Holy Spirit give rise within us a broad sympathy for all the peoples of your earth. Strengthen us to comfort those who mourn and establish your peace in big and small ways.
Bless the people and leaders of our nation and all nations so that warfare, violence and oppression may become only a historic memory.
We pray in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen. (September 11 Remembrance, Catholic Health Association, USA)
As this newsletter is sent out today, we remember the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In a solemn ceremony we observed today, Mr. Tremblay listed the stark facts of the evil that was done that day – lives destroyed, families shattered, heroes lost.
Yet, anyone who lived through those days will remember something else, too. Unity. As a country, we united against our common enemy with a fierce patriotism that I, personally, have not witnessed before or since. American flags flew everywhere, to the point where they were sold out in stores. We were kinder and gentler with each other. In the devastating days of September 2001 we embraced our fellow man with extraordinary charity, compassion, patience, and understanding.
Another phenomenon which occurred during those emotional and tumultuous days is that the churches in America began to fill up. People perceived their own mortality and began to peek into the expanse of eternity. In doing so, the necessity of a relationship with God emerged in their hearts. The God who was and always will be present and waiting for all of humanity to (re)turn to Him. The unchanging God of the ages.
This morning in Catechesis I, we read Genesis chapter 3 – the Fall of Man. There is so much to unpack in that chapter. In fact, I was so bold as to tell the students that one of the most important verses in the bible exists in Genesis 3.
“ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”(Genesis 3:15)
The “woman” being spoken of is not Eve. The students, after some thought, correctly identified her as Mary, whose seed (Jesus) will crush the head of the serpent. Actually, the “crushing,” or victory over Satan, has already happened (also, correctly identified by the students) when Jesus died on the cross.
“It is finished.”
Our patient, loving God promises us a Savior, as soon as one becomes necessary.
Our unchanging, unfathomable God plays a long game. He is infinitely patient and endlessly loving. And as soon as we recognize our need for him, he is ready to pour out his mercy on us.
But he is prepared to wait for us.
He waits for us in the tabernacle.
He waits for us at Mass.
He waits in the words of Scripture.
However long it takes.
This is the lesson I took away from class this morning. God plays a long game, and I will do well to imitate his limitless patience, love, and understanding. Because no matter what happens, tragedy or blessing, he is there, waiting to make “all things work together for the good.” - Mrs. Lisa Sweet, Academic Dean