September Eleventh

Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? 

I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act, is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.” (Luke 6:43-49)

Today is 9/11 when we remember the evil that occurred 20 years ago.   It seems like yesterday.  The Towers collapsed and were completely destroyed by a heinous act of terrorism. The Pentagon was attacked and severely damaged.   A hijacked plane headed for the Capitol crashed after passengers overwhelmed the terrorist(s).  Almost 3,000 people were killed in these attacks. 

Our nation is a good tree, but why is it that we can bear rotten fruit?  Every tree is known by its own fruit; therefore, what is rotten within our nation puts us at risk.  Our goodness is questioned by those who rely on us.  An example of our rottenness is the viscous mob attack on our Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021 and those who continue to defend that attack or pretend it didn’t happen.

Jesus said, “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil.”  Let’s never forget that when we dig deeply and lay our foundation on rock, when the floods come and the river bursts against our house, it cannot be shaken because it has been well built.  Good will triumph over evil only if our house – our democracy – continues to be well built, fortified, protected, and not a store for evil.

Deacon David Pierce