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Thank you for posting these everyday. The gospel of Luke especially touches me today - especially after reliving the events of 9/11/01 yesterday. I have been considering lately that perhaps, more than anything, we need to pray for our enemies. I'm afraid I'm not ready to forgive, however. How do you forgive such evil? I know that as a Christian I should just put my faith in Christ and let him work in their hearts. We need to pray for the conversion of the people of islam. After all, nothing is impossible with God.

I have been considering lately that perhaps, more than anything, we need to pray for our enemies.

I thought about this too, praying for the hijackers and all who wished harm upon the United States. It was difficult just to think about it.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, how about all of us doing a little praying for those posters throughout the Catholic Caucus who now and then present a side of the enemy. (Notice I did not say always.)

I also liked the part in the reflection from the Navarre Bible about leading the faithful astray. Something to think about, that's for sure.

I've been thinking alot about forgiveness and what it really means lately as well. I can say that I forgive someone, but have I really forgiven them? How do I know? There have been people who have slighted me at work. Some are easier to forgive, because I don't think it was personal. Others are more difficult, because I considered them friends, and their slight not only personally hurt me, but hurt my family. I can still talk to them, work with them, and not show my bitterness and anger, and in time the anger has turned to indifference. I try and understand that people's motives are not always obvious. For example, one person who has repeatedly damaged me is in an unhappy marriage, is an unhappy person, and seeing other people happy disturbs her. I try to understand that, and pray that I will be given the grace to forgive her.

But how do I know when I have? When I stop thinking about the ways I have been hurt? I don't know ... I try, and I think I do a good job, and then wham, I'm back to being upset because of something she said.

With the hijackers, to say you forgive is easier because I've never met them, I don't see them on a daily basis. I try and tell myself that Satan was using them for an evil act, that they were brainwashed and used. But if I saw one, would I still be angry and sad? Does that mean I haven't forgiven them? It's easy to say I have forgiven someone, and I might even think I have, but how do we know for sure? That's why I pray regularly for God to help me forgive others, because that is a major stumbling block for me in the road to Heaven.

I believe that a nation has a right to defend itself against hostilities because the nation has a moral obligation to protect its citizens from harm. But at the same time, we can and should pray that President Bush and others show mercy where warranted, work for peace with the people while at war with the violent who wish to destroy America.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Forgiveness is a powerful topic that I think we could post a thousand threads and not completely understand. I'm interested in what other people have to say.

God bless!