Spiritual Reflection

This is a very popular song during the Christmas Season. It brings to mind something I experienced many, many years ago. It was one year after 9/11. I was in New York for a finance meeting of our community. I had some time, so I wanted to do two things: one sublime…visit the remains of the trade towers and one not so sublime…attend the David Letterman Show.

I went to ground zero and found the whole area still being guarded with soldiers. I didn’t have my collar on so when I approached the area and wanted to go down to the base of ground zero, the soldier, in no uncertain words, told me to get out of there. I pleaded and he got louder. He said that only the iron workers, the first responders, fire people, police and priests were allowed there.

I told him I was a priest and he said please leave NOW. I was sad but remembered that three weeks prior to this trip, I had to have my driver’s license renewed and I had the picture of me in my collar in the unlikely event I got caught for speeding, I might receive a warning.

I pulled it out and showed it to the Soldier. He then said I could go down to ground zero and I was able to witness reverence and holiness in the midst of awful tragedy. While there, four bodies were brought out. Everyone stopped and saluted the flag covered remains.

There was a New York City cop who stood there like a frozen statue. I went up to him and asked him, “How do you do this?”  He said he had been there every day since it happened and it was 13 months to the day. He then asked me if I was a priest. I said yes but how do you know I am?  He said that I was the only one there not working.

We laughed and then he said, “Father I am surprised you asked me that question.  “GOD IS WTH US.” That is what Emmanuel means. God is with us now and forever.

{I did manage to end the day on a lighter note by attending the David Letterman show.}