Sept.11 2023-23 SunYrA
FOR WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.
22 years ago Americans boarded planes for various destinations. Long Islanders, people from Queens, Jersey and Westchester and Connecticut arrived for work in downtown Manhattan as they would any other day, yet their spiritual welfare and physical health was probably not on their minds. Some may have said their morning prayers or tried to meditate on the subway. But a few hours later, hundreds in 4 aircraft, the pentagon, and 2 tall buildings, would call upon the name of God in their fear and in their need----and in the carnage and in the wreckage, amid spilt blood, broken bodies and shed tears, Jesus was in their midst. In death as in life Jesus, was the Good Shepherd little his little lambs home.
“COME TO ME ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND ARE HEAVILY BURDENED, AND I WILL REFRESH YOU. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOUR SHOULDERS AND LEARN FOM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART. YOUR SOULS WILL FIND REST, FOR MY YOLE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN LIGHT”, is what Jesus told the crowds, both 2000 and 22 years ago. On both occasions, many were tired with the pressures of family and finance; many had burdens unknown to friends and co-workers; some were religious, some were not. Some had special plans for the next weekend; some abided by a comfortable routine. None knew that as they got their morning coffee and bagel, that all their concerns, all the burdens they carried would be given to God that morning.
No matter what their faith or religious convictions, all were asked to trust in the words from the Book of Wisdom, YOUR SOULS WILL FIND REST. To each who took their last breath on September 11th, 2001, for each of those first responders racked with sickness and death through the intervening years, Jesus says, Peace be with you, My peace I give you. Our Lord says the same words to all those families and friends who have suffered the loss of someone dear; and isn’t that what we all deeply desire, peace of mind, heart, spirit.
We are reminded again today by then President George Bush, “that one of the worst days in American history, brought out the best in what it means to be an American.” Those days of sorrow and pain also brought out the best of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Remember how we loved and cared for one another in those following days. Remember how we loved our neighbor as ourself – remember how we prayed!
Our prayer today for all of our beloved ones who have fallen, is made from all of us across the nation who honor them. For we recall from the Prophet Isaiah (40:30): “For young men may grow tired and weary, youths may stumble. But those who hope in god renew their strength; they put out wings like eagles. They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire.”
We have heard the words that the “Souls of the Just are in the Hand of God-and no torment no longer has any power over them. So thankfully true for them, yet our torment remains, as we gather loving them, remembering them, cherishing them. Their pain and suffering was one day; if my math is right, our pain encompasses 8030 days. Eternal rest they already enjoy-eternal hope, we continue to hold dear.
All too well we have learned that life is too short and we need to live each day as our last. So no matter what religious and political affiliations we may hold, no matter what creed or the color or our skin; no matter our wealth, poverty or sexual orientation we still need to learn that in all its forms hatred diminishes and sickens the one who hates and spreads hate; love empowers, strengthens and raises up the one who pours forth love without distinction.
We have heard it said truly that the one who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. But we have also heard, again from the Prophet Isaiah, “HE WILL WIELD OVER THE NATIONS AND ADJUDICATE BETWEEN MANY PEOPLES; THESE WILL HAMMER THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS (Is2).
We gather now and pray for that day when “the wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid, the calf and the lion cub feed together; the cow and the bear make friends; the lion eats straw like the ox and the infant plays over the cobra’s lair (Is.11). Death, destruction, pain suffering causes us to labor so that all people will know that no harm shall come to those on God’s Holy Mountain; for Our God is like a shepherd; he tends his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, holding them carefully close to his heart – leading to their rest (Is.40).
It is this rest, this peace of mind, this solace of heart that we wish for both ourselves and our loved ones. It is in this sense that God can make all things right that we recall the sinful woman being brought before Jesus. And even though she is guilty, we remember how Jesus challenges the crowd when he says, “let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” You and I cannot allow our grief to continue holding onto those personal stones, ready to throw in anger and revenge. You and I cannot allow our sorrow to continue holding onto any of the stones still in our held tightly in our hands to hurt, maim and kill.
Piercing through our pains which still burn in memory of the terror of that day, we need to cling to the Golden Rule – treat others as you wish to be treated; judge others, as you wish to be judged for as our 2nd reading today reminds us – love does no evil to the neighbor; hence love is the fulfillment of the law. In this way we ask to be treated and judged by the Lord - with mercy on that last day. It is in this that Jesus wishes reminds us to turn to him to hear him say, That is the PEACE, I leave with you – a peace far beyond any peace the world can give.
Almost 250 years ago Thomas Paine wrote that these are time which try men’s souls. The times haven’t changed. The attacks of 9/11, the covid-19 virus, hurricanes, sweeping wild fires, political divisions continue to try our souls and shake our faith. Still we sing of Psalm 46; “Though the mountains may fall and the hills turn to dust, yet the love of the Lord shall stand as a shelter for all you call upon his name.” So it has been promised; so we believe.
Like Martha & Mary, we call upon Jesus to strengthen us in our distress, as not mountains but planes fall from the air and buildings collapse. The death of their brother Lazarus shook them to the core. Jesus, their friend, was not there to cure him. And yet Jesus gave them a gift even beyond their wildest dreams. He raises up Lazarus and proclaims “I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies, he will live.” We believe those on 9/11 have been given that gift as well.
Today in these United States of American we continue on a noble enterprise beyond the dreams of our Founding Fathers. We need to reach for the unreachable star, we need to continue to dream great dreams; equality, truth, justice, reconciliation and peace. In that vein, Robert Kennedy used this famous line which should line our hearts “Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?
On this day of national remembrance, national mourning - let us go beyond wondering WHY there is hatred and prejudice, racism and violence in our world. Instead let’s dream and truly work to achieve the peace that never was, but a peace that still can be, a peace that still should be, a justice and peace that MUST be. Let us dream of the peace Jesus desires for each person and ask, “Why not?”
FOR WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.
22 years ago Americans boarded planes for various destinations. Long Islanders, people from Queens, Jersey and Westchester and Connecticut arrived for work in downtown Manhattan as they would any other day, yet their spiritual welfare and physical health was probably not on their minds. Some may have said their morning prayers or tried to meditate on the subway. But a few hours later, hundreds in 4 aircraft, the pentagon, and 2 tall buildings, would call upon the name of God in their fear and in their need----and in the carnage and in the wreckage, amid spilt blood, broken bodies and shed tears, Jesus was in their midst. In death as in life Jesus, was the Good Shepherd little his little lambs home.
“COME TO ME ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND ARE HEAVILY BURDENED, AND I WILL REFRESH YOU. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOUR SHOULDERS AND LEARN FOM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART. YOUR SOULS WILL FIND REST, FOR MY YOLE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN LIGHT”, is what Jesus told the crowds, both 2000 and 22 years ago. On both occasions, many were tired with the pressures of family and finance; many had burdens unknown to friends and co-workers; some were religious, some were not. Some had special plans for the next weekend; some abided by a comfortable routine. None knew that as they got their morning coffee and bagel, that all their concerns, all the burdens they carried would be given to God that morning.
No matter what their faith or religious convictions, all were asked to trust in the words from the Book of Wisdom, YOUR SOULS WILL FIND REST. To each who took their last breath on September 11th, 2001, for each of those first responders racked with sickness and death through the intervening years, Jesus says, Peace be with you, My peace I give you. Our Lord says the same words to all those families and friends who have suffered the loss of someone dear; and isn’t that what we all deeply desire, peace of mind, heart, spirit.
We are reminded again today by then President George Bush, “that one of the worst days in American history, brought out the best in what it means to be an American.” Those days of sorrow and pain also brought out the best of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Remember how we loved and cared for one another in those following days. Remember how we loved our neighbor as ourself – remember how we prayed!
Our prayer today for all of our beloved ones who have fallen, is made from all of us across the nation who honor them. For we recall from the Prophet Isaiah (40:30): “For young men may grow tired and weary, youths may stumble. But those who hope in god renew their strength; they put out wings like eagles. They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire.”
We have heard the words that the “Souls of the Just are in the Hand of God-and no torment no longer has any power over them. So thankfully true for them, yet our torment remains, as we gather loving them, remembering them, cherishing them. Their pain and suffering was one day; if my math is right, our pain encompasses 8030 days. Eternal rest they already enjoy-eternal hope, we continue to hold dear.
All too well we have learned that life is too short and we need to live each day as our last. So no matter what religious and political affiliations we may hold, no matter what creed or the color or our skin; no matter our wealth, poverty or sexual orientation we still need to learn that in all its forms hatred diminishes and sickens the one who hates and spreads hate; love empowers, strengthens and raises up the one who pours forth love without distinction.
We have heard it said truly that the one who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. But we have also heard, again from the Prophet Isaiah, “HE WILL WIELD OVER THE NATIONS AND ADJUDICATE BETWEEN MANY PEOPLES; THESE WILL HAMMER THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS (Is2).
We gather now and pray for that day when “the wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid, the calf and the lion cub feed together; the cow and the bear make friends; the lion eats straw like the ox and the infant plays over the cobra’s lair (Is.11). Death, destruction, pain suffering causes us to labor so that all people will know that no harm shall come to those on God’s Holy Mountain; for Our God is like a shepherd; he tends his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, holding them carefully close to his heart – leading to their rest (Is.40).
It is this rest, this peace of mind, this solace of heart that we wish for both ourselves and our loved ones. It is in this sense that God can make all things right that we recall the sinful woman being brought before Jesus. And even though she is guilty, we remember how Jesus challenges the crowd when he says, “let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” You and I cannot allow our grief to continue holding onto those personal stones, ready to throw in anger and revenge. You and I cannot allow our sorrow to continue holding onto any of the stones still in our held tightly in our hands to hurt, maim and kill.
Piercing through our pains which still burn in memory of the terror of that day, we need to cling to the Golden Rule – treat others as you wish to be treated; judge others, as you wish to be judged for as our 2nd reading today reminds us – love does no evil to the neighbor; hence love is the fulfillment of the law. In this way we ask to be treated and judged by the Lord - with mercy on that last day. It is in this that Jesus wishes reminds us to turn to him to hear him say, That is the PEACE, I leave with you – a peace far beyond any peace the world can give.
Almost 250 years ago Thomas Paine wrote that these are time which try men’s souls. The times haven’t changed. The attacks of 9/11, the covid-19 virus, hurricanes, sweeping wild fires, political divisions continue to try our souls and shake our faith. Still we sing of Psalm 46; “Though the mountains may fall and the hills turn to dust, yet the love of the Lord shall stand as a shelter for all you call upon his name.” So it has been promised; so we believe.
Like Martha & Mary, we call upon Jesus to strengthen us in our distress, as not mountains but planes fall from the air and buildings collapse. The death of their brother Lazarus shook them to the core. Jesus, their friend, was not there to cure him. And yet Jesus gave them a gift even beyond their wildest dreams. He raises up Lazarus and proclaims “I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies, he will live.” We believe those on 9/11 have been given that gift as well.
Today in these United States of American we continue on a noble enterprise beyond the dreams of our Founding Fathers. We need to reach for the unreachable star, we need to continue to dream great dreams; equality, truth, justice, reconciliation and peace. In that vein, Robert Kennedy used this famous line which should line our hearts “Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?
On this day of national remembrance, national mourning - let us go beyond wondering WHY there is hatred and prejudice, racism and violence in our world. Instead let’s dream and truly work to achieve the peace that never was, but a peace that still can be, a peace that still should be, a justice and peace that MUST be. Let us dream of the peace Jesus desires for each person and ask, “Why not?”