Message from Father Purpura (Oct. ’01)
Very early in the morning of September 12 (4:32 AM) I received the following e-mail from an Arab reader of our e-mail and Web Site:
I am very sorry for the tragedy that happened yesterday, it was great sadness and deepest sense of shock. I hope that you and everyone you know, friends, families nothing happened to them and are safe.
God be with you.
My response in those early hours was as follows:
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. My family and close friends are safe, though thousands of innocent civilian American Men, Woman and Children died needlessly, not to mention the countless number of children left without parents.
I fear that this senseless act has not only put the peace process in great jeopardy, but has also served to turn away the American sympathy for the Palestinians and other suffering Arabs, that so many of us have spent our lives trying to build. The process, of which great success was being achieved, of raising the American awareness of the needs of the Palestinians and Lebanese people, I believe has been permanently damaged and perhaps beyond repair for decades.
America now feels that it is at war — I fear that in many American minds they will not sort out an "Arab terrorist" from “the Arab people" or perhaps even "Arab Americans". Many of us of Arabic descent fought the past stereotypes of all Arabic people being terrorists. Many lives and much energy were spent on building awareness of the "good Arab people" — I fear that all of that progress was lost yesterday.
The terrorists who thought they were helping their cause, I believe, set in motion the end of their group's existence and all those who have supported them. America today seems resolute on these facts and I believe America will avenge these deaths at no matter what cost of American Soldiers — it is indeed a sad day for American-Arab Relations — if in fact the reports are true that it was Arabs from Palestine, Lebanon and other Arab nations who plotted, supported and implemented these events.
Pray for all good people of the world. Today America is determined to go to war to avenge these deaths and Americans will settle for nothing less, no matter the cost or the time needed to do so.
Those were my raw thoughts on that early morning on the 12 of September. While my prayers were fervent for all those killed in the senseless attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, my thoughts and prayers quickly turned to what this meant for America and the world. Certainly America would not and could not let these acts stand without a very strong response – no less could be expected of any government who cares for its people.
While America prepares for war, we as Orthodox Christian young people need to pray for all involved: for those who died needlessly, for those who will die defending America’s right to peace and security, for those who will die innocently as collateral damage in our response, for those who will die as soldiers against America’s response defending what they feel is their cause, and yes, even for those who hijacked the planes, so distorted in their view of the world, that they gave up all hope and saw death and destruction as the only solution.
These are not easy prayers, but they must be prayed if we are filled with God’s Love, Compassion, and Mercy. We need to pray for all people’s salvation. We need to be mindful that evil begets evil, hatred begets hatred – it is only love and holiness that overcomes hatred and evil. While the government must do what needs to be done militarily, monetarily, politically and otherwise; we can do our part by praying for all, being holy and righteous.
Our faith can and needs to change the world. We need to be hopeful in the midst of hopelessness, joyful in the midst of joylessness, loving in the midst of hatred, compassionate in the midst of no compassion. Yes, we can change our world and find that inner peace that comes from Christ alone – no matter what the world has to offer and brings to and against us.
We need to do all of this because in the end, when the bombs stop falling, the guns fall silent, the covert and overt operations end, the only thing that will end desperate acts is love and compassion. We need to stand ready to bring people back together – to Christ – to Him who heals and binds. Only then will we find honor, security, peace, and a sense of wholeness.
Pray that in the end – all acts in this tragic event will lead to peace, safety, security, and ultimately to holiness and Christ Himself who is our safe harbor in the midst of all storms.
Be assured of God’s love for you and for all people of the world. Follow that love and you will find the strength to endure and overcome all things.
Yours in Christ,
Very Rev Dr Joseph Purpura