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The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 19)
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The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
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Scripture citation(s): Romans 8:38-39
A Sermon by
Fr. Mead
on
Romans 8:38-39
✛
Five Years On, 9/11
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For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Where are we five years after 9/11 changed everything for the world, for the West, for our country, for our city, and for this church? I will begin with a disclaimer. Hold onto that word, disclaimer.
The “war on terrorism” which commenced in 2001 in response to 9/11 has been defined more clearly, so that increasingly it resembles the dreaded “clash of civilizations” predicted for decades by some experts. We do pray against such a clash. Divisions have arisen and deepened over Western and American strategy and tactics. I will go no further on this; just keep holding onto that word, disclaimer.
Meanwhile, the discussion goes on about what buildings and memorials will rise on and near Ground Zero. But these have not yet risen, for several apparently intractable reasons. Perhaps this is a symbolic reflection of the deepening conflicts of the past five years since 9/11.
Now let me pick up on my disclaimer. I beg your understanding that I do not intend here to take sides in the political debates and divisions within our country. Further I do not intend here to criticize Islam, the world’s second largest religion, or its adherents. What I do mean is to exempt this pulpit from the issues (important as they are) of what Christ called the kingdoms of this world. This includes both secular/political and even religious systems and institutions.
Jesus said and did many things that affected and affect people on all points of these political and religious spectrums in the kingdoms of this world. Yet Jesus, when on trial for his life at the supreme moment of his ministry, was asked by Pontius Pilate if he, Jesus, were a king. And Jesus stood before the political and religious authorities of his day and answered: “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but my Kingdom is not from the world.” (Jn 18:36)
So where are we, five years after 9/11 has changed the face of the world and its kingdoms? We are right where the first disciples of Jesus were. We are right where our ancestors in this faith have been in every generation and time, some of whom most certainly witnessed apocalyptic events and saw the end of the world and its kingdoms. By the way – [Recall the apocalypses of the past century, with its monstrous systems and tyrants – some of which disappeared as a result of wars; some of which died more peacefully. And let us not imagine that our free world, with its economic systems, does not cherish, even idolize, powers and principalities of this world.] Where are we on the fifth anniversary of 9/11? We are right at the foot of the cross. The cross is the place where the kingdoms of this world nailed Jesus, but the cross is also the place where Jesus’ kingdom, the everlasting kingdom which is not of this world, overcomes the world and perennially reveals the nature of its living Lord.
God raised Jesus from the dead, oh yes. But on the cross God made it clear what he is like, from all eternity. He is the God who so loved his world that he himself has entered into the sin and death of the world in order to call us back to himself that we might live. He is the God who is love and therefore empties and pours himself out for us. This love is on public exhibition at the foot of the cross, once and for all. The cross of Christ judges all the kingdoms of this world, all political, cultural and religious systems, all civilizations; and finds them wanting. The cross is the throne of Christ the King. That is where we are.
This is a very limited answer to the question, Where are we five years after 9/11? We might be tempted to say a great deal about much else, politically and culturally – as Saint Peter was tempted, when he picked up a sword and struck one of those who were arresting Jesus. But Jesus would not have this; instead he healed the man struck by Peter. Then he went to the cross.
At the foot of the cross we can look at Christ, and we can pray. As we look and pray, the grace of Christ’s kingdom may enter our own lives. Whatever we do after that, we will do it with a difference. We will realize that the seeking of Christ’s kingdom, the kingdom of God and its goodness, is always and everywhere the most important thing. The rest, as the Lord said, will “be added unto you” and take its subordinate place.
May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, bless all those thousands who were killed five years ago on 9/11, and may he bless and keep their surviving families and loved ones. May God’s love bless all Christians and Jews, bless all Muslims, bless all believers and unbelievers, bless all who do not know God or care about God or even like the idea of God. May God’s kingdom and its goodness descend upon friends and foes everywhere. May we all be delivered from the great danger we are in through our unhappy divisions, and may the evils of terror, killing and war be overcome. In the end, may we all receive the words that came from our Lord as he was breathing his last on the cross: “Father, forgive…” AMEN.
