The Works of My Father

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled—can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there. John 10:31-42 

Seventeen years ago seems like a lifetime. I was at an appointment and didn't hear the news until I arrived at our clergy meeting at the Cathedral in Wilmington, DE. The whole country was in shock and mourning. As someone raised in New York, I was terrified for friends and relatives who were there. And mostly worried about my children. I wanted to get home and hold the two there and hear the voice of my daughter in college. The days after, we started to act like compassionate Christians. For a brief moment our empathy and compassion was real. We wanted to do good works, the works of our Father God. We wanted to change the narrative. Too quickly we turned to war and revenge. There was a brief moment when we thought to hold our children and one another, no matter our color, creed or orientation.

Jesus is about to be stoned by angry religious leaders. His words, even more than his actions, had them furious. He claimed to be the child of God (as scripture says we all are), but they only saw the trouble Jesus was causing them and not the good he was doing. They moved quickly to revenge, as we humans too often do. We are invited on this anniversary of 911, to remember those lost, to pray for our "enemies" and recommit to living as the children of God, with empathy, compassion and caring.

Today, I ask God to help me honor those who were lost by renewing my commitment to loving all whom remain, with no restrictions or judgment. May we all live as daughters and sons of a loving, healing God and share that love, forgiveness and acceptance that we have so bountifully received.