The picture of Fireman Michael Kehoe climbing one of the Twin Towers on 9/11 was printed in papers all over the world because it was a symbol of courage. Everyone else was leaving, as quickly as they could, but he was risking his life by going into the burning building and for a while no one knew whether or not he had survived. In fact, he did get out and he has said since said that he came down those stairs again in no time at all!
Of course it was a different world then. Everyone believed that the first plane which hit the Twin Towers had done so by accident. Afterwards, when the tower collapsed, six of Michael Kehoe's colleagues died. Would they have gone into the building if they had known what was really happening?
At the time they said that they would. Lieutenant Andrew Graf of the New York Fire Department said, 'If you know there's life in there, you go inside. That's what they're paying us for.'
It's a comforting thought, but Health and Safety rules dictate that rescue workers are sometimes told not to help people in trouble until they can be sure that their own lives will not be put in danger. So on the 7th of July, and in other situations too, emergency teams have waited for permission to approach victims who were bleeding to death.
It's understandable that the authorities, mindful of the lawsuits and recriminations which would inevitably follow if they put their staff in peril, are fearful of sending anyone to help victims who are in dangerous situations. But when I reflect, once again, on the events of the first Good Friday, I am glad that Jesus did not hesitate to put his life on the line. [1]
It is as if God said to him, 'If you know there are people who need saving, you have to go for it. That's what I sent you to do!'
Jesus died because he wanted to make known to us – and to all people – the depth of God's love for us. That's why the day he died was a good one – good not for him, of course, but for the world. Now we know beyond doubt that God is there for us when we're in trouble, even when we're in danger of death.
[1] Mark 14.32-15.39
Of course it was a different world then. Everyone believed that the first plane which hit the Twin Towers had done so by accident. Afterwards, when the tower collapsed, six of Michael Kehoe's colleagues died. Would they have gone into the building if they had known what was really happening?
At the time they said that they would. Lieutenant Andrew Graf of the New York Fire Department said, 'If you know there's life in there, you go inside. That's what they're paying us for.'
It's a comforting thought, but Health and Safety rules dictate that rescue workers are sometimes told not to help people in trouble until they can be sure that their own lives will not be put in danger. So on the 7th of July, and in other situations too, emergency teams have waited for permission to approach victims who were bleeding to death.
It's understandable that the authorities, mindful of the lawsuits and recriminations which would inevitably follow if they put their staff in peril, are fearful of sending anyone to help victims who are in dangerous situations. But when I reflect, once again, on the events of the first Good Friday, I am glad that Jesus did not hesitate to put his life on the line. [1]
It is as if God said to him, 'If you know there are people who need saving, you have to go for it. That's what I sent you to do!'
Jesus died because he wanted to make known to us – and to all people – the depth of God's love for us. That's why the day he died was a good one – good not for him, of course, but for the world. Now we know beyond doubt that God is there for us when we're in trouble, even when we're in danger of death.
[1] Mark 14.32-15.39
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