The Words of the Burton Family
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The Words of the Burton Family |
Christian, Jewish and Muslim believers gathered beneath umbrellas in solemn prayer at Ground Zero on September 11 to honor the heroes who fell on that day and to affirm the growing sense of unity and hope among America’s faith leaders. The American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) gathered dozens of ministers and imams for prayer and the lighting of candles at the First Responders Memorial.
“We are here to remember the heroes of 9/11, those living and deceased, who were the first responders who bravely marched forward into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center to save others,” said Rev. Michael Jenkins, president of the ACLC, reading from a proclamation. “Many gave their lives on that day -- firemen, police officers, rescue workers, medical personnel, and volunteers. They did this without thought of their own safety, so that in this moment of dire emergency others might live.
“We gather here representing Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faith traditions, to demonstrate that though this tragedy has changed the history of America and the world, there is hope,” he continued. “The faith leaders of all major religions have come closer together because of this emergency, and in the last eight years we have made tremendous and continuous efforts to build bridges of peace and understanding based on faith in God and love for one another.”
Imam Ameer Salahuddin of the Islamic Center of Pasaic, New Jersey; Archbishop George Augustus Stallings of Washington, D.C.; Bishop James Burch of Clifton, Virginia;, Rev. Sinclair Grey of Mount Rainier, Maryland; and Minister Scott Pruiksma of the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters in New Jersey also prayed.
Imam Souleiman Konate leader of the Masjid Aqsa Mosque in New York City who lost his cousin, Abdul Karim, on 9/ll read from the Q’uran, Surah Two, verse 153 -- 157:
“All you who believe seek help from Allah. Allah is with the people who are patient. Those who are killed in the way of Allah, they are dead -- Nay! -- they are living but you perceive it not. And certainly we shall test you with fear, hunger, love of wealth, life and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient, who, when afflicted with calamity say, truly to Allah we belong and truly to Him shall we return. They are those on whom are the blessing from their lord and who receive his mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”
“The people who died on September 11 live on in our hearts. The people who died are with God and living with Allah,” Imam Konate prayed at the gathering.
Recalling the ceremony later, he commented: “Singing the songs of Abraham, the songs of unity of the Abrahamic faiths, and showing to the world that we are in this together -- that was really something to me.”
Today the religious leaders of the American Clergy Leadership Conference gather together at Ground Zero on the eighth anniversary of the most devastating attack on our country since Pearl Harbor.
We are here to light candles and offer prayers to God to seek comfort for the families of those who gave their lives on this day, September 11, 2001. This is a solemn occasion in which we have gathered to seek God’s comfort for the families of those who were lost.
We are here to remember the heroes of 9/11, those living and deceased, who were the first responders who bravely marched forward into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center to save others. Many gave their lives on that day -- firemen, police officers, rescue workers, medical personnel and volunteers. They did this without thought of their own safety, so that in this moment of dire emergency others might live.
We gather here representing Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faith traditions, to demonstrate that, though this tragedy has changed the history of America and the world, there is hope. The faith leaders of all major religions have come closer together because of this emergency, and in the last eight years we have made tremendous and continuous efforts to build bridges of peace and understanding based on faith in God and love for one another.
We take strength from the fact that the faith communities of the world were awakened and have come together from every faith, proclaiming that those who claim they are representing God actually disqualify such representation when they act with hate and violence in denial of the Scriptures of their faith.
Therefore, we bring a word of comfort to those who lost their loved ones on 9/11. Please know that they did not die in vain. Their sacrifice has struck the conscience of the world and awakened all communities of faith that we cannot stand apart any longer. Their sacrifice has caused the communities of faith to come together in America and around the world to realize that the only way to stop the violence and destruction is for all faiths to stand together as one family, when all faiths stand together for the love of God and security and protection of all humanity.
As leaders of faith, we offer our repentance for not having embraced one another so that a consciousness of respect and love would permeate every nation. We pray now that the Lord will bless us to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as people of faith and patriots of our nation. We are confident that if we fulfill our responsibility to lead with love and demonstrate that we are all children of one God, we will create the conditions upon which the Lord can bring those to justice who stand against goodness. We pray that the people of faith will rise with a clarion call that God is the creator of us all and the only source of true peace is God’s loving, parental spirit. We sincerely call out to God to strengthen us in love that we might meet the adversaries of goodness without fear and overwhelm them with the confidence that historically love always triumphs and overcomes hate and that unity for good ultimately will overcome tyranny.
On this day of 9/11 we sincerely offer our gratitude to God for preserving this nation of America, and we ask God’s blessing on this nation and all nations who will stand together with faith to bring peace upon the earth.
Contributed by Douglas Burton