PATRIOT DAY
11 September 2013
Readings:
Key Verses (using the World English Bible):
Job 30:26: “When I looked for good, then evil came; when I waited for light, there came darkness.”
Matt. 11:29: “[L]earn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.”
Reflection
Over the past 12 years I’ve come across so much commentary on September 11, 2001. One of the most disturbing says something to the effect of, “Millions live out the horrors of 9/11 every day all over the world. How selfish to just focus on your one tragedy!” How harsh and unhelpful, I would reply. Most of us know that offering consolation to the bereaved is quite a different experience from being oneself bereaved.
I didn’t know anyone who perished on September 11th, 2001. I wasn’t even in New York City, which is where I grew up and is my current home. But being far from the events of that day was nearly impossible no matter where you physically were located in the country My own 9/11 ritual ever since has been to wake up at 8am, and watch the live broadcast of New York City’s commemoration, which usually lasts three or four hours. I’ve since trimmed this ritual service a bit in order to attend my church’s service, which begins at noon.
Now that’s something that would surprise my self from a decade ago. Senseless tragedy like this would have in my mind just been, at best, yet another reason not to believe. At worst it would’ve been a justification for pessimism, cynicism, and a whole host of other philosophies that echo Job’s words from today: “When I looked for good, then evil came; when I waited for light, there came darkness.” The last thing I would’ve wanted to do is “stand up in the assembly [church], and cry for help.”
The problem with this line of thinking, however, is that you begin to miss the forest for the trees. Yes, a group of terrorists destroyed countless lives, but an even larger group came together to “bind up the broken hearted” and “comfort all who mourn”, as Isaiah puts it in chapter 61. The terrorists laid waste to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but hundreds of gentle and humble souls banded to “rebuild the old ruins” and “repair the ruined cities”, again as Isaiah writes.
That’s the kind of gentleness and humility that Jesus stresses today—not to convert our souls but to give them rest. On days like today, our souls need to rest, and Jesus wants to teach us that the way to do that is by following his example: perform acts of gentleness and humility where they are needed, and oh how they are needed on 9/11. When we do that, we really can be the “light of the world” just as Christ said we would be.
Light really can shine in the darkness and bring rest to our weary souls. Realizing this can be the first steps towards healing… and faith.
Prayers of the Day
Merciful God,
you teach us in your holy word
that you do not willingly afflict or grieve your children.
Look with pity on us in our time of sorrow.
Remember us in mercy.
Strengthen us in patience.
Comfort us with the memory of your goodness.
Let your presence shine on us,
and give us peace.
This we ask through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
—from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006; Collect for a Day of Mourning, p. 63
The departed whom we now remember
have entered into the peace of life eternal.
They still live on earth
in the acts of goodness they performed
and in the hearts of those who cherish their memory.
May the beauty of their lives
abide among us as a loving benediction.
May the Father of peace
send peace to all who mourn,
and comfort all the bereaved among us.
Amen.
—from the Union Prayer Book of Reform Judaism, 1940
(Eastern Orthodox Memorial Service, “Kontakion for the departed”, translation from The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)
Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal,
the Creator and Maker of humankind;
and we are mortal,
formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return.
For so did you ordain when you created me, saying,
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
All of us go down to the dust;
yet even at the grave we make our song:
“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”
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