PRESENT WEEK'S GLIMPSE OF GOD
Glimpse of God for the week of September 13, 2026
In remembrance of those who lost their lives on and since the September 11th attacks
This past Thursday, the Philadelphia FBI had their annual “Run to Remember” over the Ben Franklin Bridge. This run /walk was organized because the Philadelphia FBI family wanted to memorialize and honor not only the FBI employees, but all those who died during the attacks; Civilians, first responders, Fire, Police, and Military, as well as those who have died since then. To honor them, several years ago I was invited, as the first lay, female, Catholic Chaplain for the FBI, to lead with prayer/remarks. I was honored to be invited to do so. This also afforded me the opportunity to see and meet more of the FBI family members that I am invited to serve. Now that I have had the opportunity to work with the FBI family as a chaplain, I do so with a spirit of pride, humility, openness and love. The FBI run to remember reminds me of the fact and reality that we are all called to serve our fellow human beings with a greater sense of compassion, love and respect as we look into the face of Christ as He chooses to reveal Himself. 25 years ago, all of God’s children, His beloved sons and daughters, were faced with the task of seeing the face of God in the seriously injured, deceased, broken, frightened, lost, and lonely.
Attending the run afforded me the opportunity to pray for and speak of God’s faithfulness. It was an opportunity for me to express how we as a people, one nation under God, will never forget those who lost their lives during the September 11th attacks and since then. The attacks of September 11th, as well as every day when lives are taken coldly, viciously and without reason, should cause us all to question, resolve and pray. We are all God’s children, yet people are being treated like invisible objects void of feelings, that are deemed as unnecessary so their lives can be extracted from the earth, and no one would care or notice and eventually they would be forgotten. The devil thought that he could use the devastation of September 11th to prove this point. He was wrong….
As a nation, we are resilient, As a people, we are resilient, As God’s beloved child, we are resilient. As God’s children, we resolve never to forget those whose lives were taken that horrific day and every day since. As God’s children, we will always remember and honor those near and far who are still suffering and bearing the cross of grief, loss, anger, uncertainty, fear and disbelief since September 11, 2001. As God’s children, we will always remember those who sought to serve and assist during the aftermath of the attacks, but whose lives were changed and ended due to their being exposed to the toxic chemicals in the air and on the grounds of the attacks. As God’s children, we all have crosses to carry, yet if we deny or ignore our fellow brother or sister’s crosses because of fear or ego, then we are choosing to make it heavier and unbearable. By our prayers, our resolve to be stronger and never again be a victim but rather a victor, our acts of remembrance, and our conversations of those who have passed away in our family, our circle of friends, our community and our world, we are choosing to assist those who mourn by paying respect to, honoring and remembering those they mourn for.
The “Run to Remember” serves as a reminder to me that as we all have crosses to carry that sometimes they may seem too heavy and other times more like a splinter than a cross, we are not only invited to bear them in faith with our God, but we are also called to assist others as they carry theirs. How do we assist? With compassion, understanding, empathy, honor, respect and dignity.
September 11th happened 25 years ago, and I think we can all remember what we were doing and where we were that fateful day. We can recall how church services were filled, and faith was shared and not hidden. But as the saying goes, out of sight out of mind, we cannot let that saying become our reality when it comes to remembering those, we loved whose life was taken from us, from other moms, dads, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9.11, may we use this time to pray for the healing of our country, and all those who continue to carry the cross of grief, anger, fear, and uncertainty and seek God’s grace to continue to heal them and make them whole.
Instead of a daily reflection, I invite you, with the grace of God’s Holy Spirit, to pray over some of the lines or thoughts of this prayer.
A question that you may ask as part of your prayer could be How have I been transformed by the cross of death, or the 9.11 attacks, of that I carry or that I have assisted others to carry?
My Prayer for Transfiguration, in memory of those who lost their lives in the 9.11 attacks
Lord, you invite all who are heavily burdened to come to you and you will refresh them. America comes to you Lord,
for continued healing, courage, restoration, renewal, and transfiguration.
We come to you as the FBI family to run and walk, as we remember
the terror attacks that occurred in our country 25 years ago.
The World Trade Centers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington DC
and Shanksville, Pa.
We come to you as we remember and pray for the many victims, survivors, and bystanders
of that painfilled day and the many days, weeks, months and years that have followed, filled with great anger,
unimaginable grief and unanswered questions.
We grieve with those who have suffered the greatest loss,
the loss of a loved one that has been taken from them:
their fathers, sons, uncles, grandfathers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, a toddler,
other young children, and even strangers.
We come to you in the midst of death, anger, pain and weakness,
and ask that you transfigure all of us.
Transfigure our anger and hatred into your mercy and forgiveness.
Transfigure our grief and mourning into a deeper faith,
a greater hope, and a lasting peace.
Transfigure our fear into stronger courage,
greater determination and an undaunting strength.
Transfigure our desire for revenge into a greater trust in your justice.
May your gentle hand wipe away our tears, raise our heads high
and lead us to a place of healing.
Make new those who are now standing at the gates of paradise
and renew those who struggle to go on.
May your breath of life bring us out of ourselves and into a deeper love,
service, and compassion for our neighbor, near and far.
Finally, Loving God, transfigure our confusion, dismay, and discouragement
into a wonder and awe as we stand before you: united, resilient, victorious, strong and in one accord,
because you are the God who has overcome evil, because you are the God who has overcome evil,
conquered death and has blessed America through the power of the cross.
We ask this in unity with the Holy Spirit and in the name of Christ our Lord. AMEN
THE CROSS OF DEATH IS THE CROSS OF HOPE
T The TRUE Cross is H a sign of HOPE E to be EMBRACED
C Christ selflessly gave up of His life so that all may live and inherit eternal life
R Remember that you were included in that great promise
O Open your mind, heart and spirit so that this final act is your hope
S So that you can share His message of love, healing, and hope with others
S Selflessly, sympathetically and without reserve.
As you remember the reason for the cross, and how it remains a sign of love and source of hope,
through your presence, listening and compassion,
with those whose burdens and crosses are heavy,
you are selflessly helping others carry theirs so that no one feels alone, abandoned and without hope.
May we never forget to embrace and not exclude, reconcile and not retaliate,
receive and not reject, So that we can become God’s instruments of peace
as we build his Kingdom here on earth.
Glimpse of God for the week of September 7, 2026……..Laboring in Love
Happy Labor Day Weekend. May it be safe, happy, relaxing, and celebratory as you gather with all those you love and hold near and dear to you. Cherish those times that you celebrate with family and friends and be mindful of all the labors of love that you have participated in, been the recipient of and have freely performed. May all your conversations, and shared heartfelt wishes, be a glimpse of God’s never-failing love, grace, hope and presence. May it be an opportunity to recognize of the many hidden blessings that come out of hiding, graces that expound, joy that refreshes and peace that permeates the core of your very being, from your head to your toes, and brings you refreshment, renewal, and strength. May the memories of the quality time spent in the presence and company of your family and friends as you celebrate the ending of summer and the upcoming of autumn, be a source of energy, encouragement, renewal, strength, hope and support. May the end of summer remind you of how blessed you are and how much of a gift you are to others, and they are to you. In your celebration of Labor Day 2026, try not to focus on the feeling of discouragement or sadness that you may have felt this past year, or may be feeling now6due to financial or family stresses, illness, or mental or physical weariness. Take the opportunity to focus on the courage that God gave and continues to give you, to face and carry your crosses and how you became victorious over, and not a victim to, their weight, effects or temptations.
My prayer for you this Labor Day 2026 is that you are able to recognize and recall the numerous labors of love this past year that came forth from your compassion and concern for others and their concern and love for you. Look at the many random acts of kindness, extensions of love, compassion, forgiveness, quality family time, and the growth of genuine concern and caring for the stranger that continue to emerge be it from covid or the reality that we need each other, and no one is an island.
As you reflect on the significance of this weekend and the gift of labor, take a moment to thank God for the many graces that He has bestowed upon you as you labored in the light of His love: in the light of your hard work as a parent, on the graces received as you raised your family and gave of yourself, your energy, though probably often depleted yet never selfishly held onto, your attention, your discipline, your wisdom, your insight, your tough love and your tender love and care. In the light of your hard work as an employee, coworker, mentor and how you were blessed with so many gifts and talents especially of your attention and reliability, look at how you gave of yourself out of selfless love for the good and growth of others so that they could grow up and become their best self, the person that God created them to be and have the potential to become. As you live and love as a consecrated religious, member of the clergy, single, married, or retired, can you recognize that it is in your many labors of love that have allowed you to grow and become the mature person that you are today.
In the light of your love as you offered your talents and gifts to your family, children, siblings, grandchildren, employers, coworkers, friends, member of your religious community, neighbors, church members and even the stranger, can you see God’s presence, His graces, and blessings?
Let the memories of those who have gone before you, the gift of their hard work , many countless labors of love, and their work ethic be a source of strength for you as you take a break to celebrate the gift of your labor.
Labor Day means so much more than labor or work. It is how we labor that makes this day so much more meaningful. How we labor in love, with love, in love and out of love, for our God, self and others is what makes Labor Day a day to celebrate and remember verses just thinking that it is just another holiday that makes for a long weekend. As we celebrate this Labor Day with picnics, going to the shore, or BBQ’s at home, amongst family, friends, or neighbors, it doesn’t really matter what we do or where we go or who we celebrate with, what matters is what are we celebrating and why is it important. For many the gift of Labor is about the job that they do so that they can provide for themselves and their family.
The gift of labor is truly a gift especially as we reflect on the effects of what is going on in our world, and how people are not only unable to find meaningful labor so that they use their God givens talents and abilities, but also are limited to how they can reach out in their labors of love, but not unable to reach out in the greatest labor of love, and that is prayer and compassion, love and concern for their fellow neighbor and those far off.
Some people think that they alone are responsible for their work, and they fail to see that their gifts and talents are from God and that their identity does not lie in their work, but rather in their status as God’s beloved children, loved unconditionally and beyond measure. We are His greatest creation. Our labor, our giving of self, our recognition of the work and talent of others is what can make their Labor Day weekend and everyday a memorable gift, a glimpse of God to celebrate, rejoice in and thank God for. Do we labor out of obligation, or to gain attention and accolades or just to get a paycheck? Could it be that there is a deeper reason, one that speaks of service, giving of self for the good of others, out of gratitude to God so that we can be our best self by sharing the gifts and talents that we have been so blessed with? So, as you reflect on Labor Day 2026, will you take time to celebrate the gift of your life and the love of those you love and have been a coworker with you as you strive to build up the kingdom of God here on earth? Isn’t that the best labor of love that you can participate in here on earth? One brick, one step, one prayer, one act of kindness, one word of mercy, one word of contrition, one labor of love, a time…
Yes, students return to school, the crazy and hazy rainy days of summer will soon be behind us, but as you look in the rearview mirror at the summer of 2026 can you see, do you recognize, how you have been participating in the great labor of love? It is because of your compassion, selflessness, extending yourself to help make the days of time spent all about quality time. It is because of your presence before your God and with those that surrounded you, all of God’s beloved sons and daughters, that they can recognize how they too are reflections of His presence and beacons of His love. It is because of your faith that you can be an instrument of God’s peace in a world that is divided and in discord. Do you see how you have labored in love by the way that you cared for an elderly parent, visited a widowed neighbor, encouraged a lonely friend, called someone who may have been feeling discouraged and depressed and suffering from mental illness, forgave an estranged sibling or family member, how you helped raise your grandchildren, remained in contact and encouraged your nieces and nephews, were present to the members of your religious community and parish community? Do you see your labor of love by the time spent time in prayer, placing the needs of others before your own, your sincere and humble contrition before your God and your extension of mercy and peace where there is injury and hurt? Your labors of love are the very blessings that have come back to you. As you have labored in the love of mercy, you have become merciful. As you have labored in the love of empathy, you have become more compassionate. As you have labored in the love of healing, you have become more whole and a wounded healer. As you have labored in the love of offering peace, you have become a peacemaker. As you have labored in the love of silence, you have become a lover of humility. As you have labored in the love of tough love, you have become more sympathetic and supportive. As you have labored in the love of thoughtfulness, you have become more selfless and less selfish. As you have labored in the love of prayer, you have become a better and deeper pray-er; and as you have labored in the love of spreading the Gospel, you have become a visible witness of your faith and the presence of Christ in your life.
May your Labor Day weekend remind you that it is not the work or lack of work that makes this Labor Day special, or a cause to celebrate, as much as it is the measure of love that you use as you strive to be your best self, live up to your potential as God’s beloved child, and help others to do the same.
LABOR DAY 2026 PRAYER:
Make each day your prayer of gratitude as you recognize God’s great love for you, as His laborer of love in the whole of creation.
May you, as God’s LABORER of Love…….
(Sunday) “L” - Live with joy, Love always, and Laugh often.
(Monday) “A”- Because God Adores you, Abides, within you and Abounds from you.
(Tuesday) “B” – Believe that you are Blessed, Brave, Beloved and Beautiful in God’s eyes, although broken or discouraged at times, NEVER
(Wednesday) “0” – Overcome by despair, destroyed by diversity, or defeated by self-doubt.
BUT
(Thursday) “R” – Renewed and replenished in the grace and by the strength of GOD.
SO
(Friday) “E” - so that you can embrace the cross of Christ with humility, openness, surrender, peace and joy, (Saturday) “R” – resolving to show love, empathy, and understanding when looking in the face of hatred, prejudice, indifference, and hostility.
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