September 14, 2001
Sad. Scared. Hurt. A way of living and being from before Tuesday may well have come to an end. That may make us mourn and it may make us angry. The devil had a big day on Tuesday. Broke a lot of bodies and broke a lot of hearts. Shattered a lot of dreams along with the buildings and airplanes. And since then people have been asking, “Why?” There have been tears, and more – wailing and mourning and cursing.
Many of us have been glued to television, radio, internet. Our conversation has been filled with questions, sorrow, guesses, speculation, rumor, and bewilderment. We’ve called loved ones to make sure they were all right and more really just to connect in a difficult time. We want to know that we were not alone.
The Devil had a big day on Tuesday. Really got our attention.
You see it was more than just some 19 people on airplanes that did this. More than another 30 some people involved in ground support. More than just an international terrorist network, more than just a nation that provides sanctuary for bombers and destroyers – it was a system and a mindset – or maybe a heartset – that worked once again to bring destruction into God’s world.
It’s the system and the heartset that gives in to the call for retaliation and getting even or more than even with the person that has hurt us. But St. Paul tells us that we are to “put on the whole armor of God so that we may stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
The devil loves stirring people up against each other and then sits back and watches the destruction. The devil loves to feed grudges and animosities to bring that self-propelling spiral of attack, revenge, attack, attack, revenge, and revenge. Each side understands itself to be wronged and needing to bring the score to even. The devil loves stirring up impatience, and frustration, and desires for what is not ours that will breed conflict or bring temptation.
And in the dust and confusion and smoke and lies, the truth that our enemy is not flesh and blood, but that our enemy is a whole system and a practice of retaliation, becomes impossible to make out with human eyes alone. It is the eyes of faith that can begin to make out the real force behind the chaos and destruction.
All I can tell you tonight is that Jesus Christ came into this world to put an end to that system. That’s the summary of the only word of hope that I am authorized to preach. He did not do that by raising an army, by declaring war, by developing sophisticated weapons. And God did not surrender to the devil in Jesus Christ. Something very different happened.
In the gospel lesson this evening we read Jesus’ understanding of how he and his followers would stand up to the devil. Jesus says that the hour of his glorification was about to come. By that he meant that his crucifixion was about to come upon him. He understood that unless he became that grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died, his life and mission could not bear fruit.
Jesus says: Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world is driven out. That ruler that Jesus refers to is the Devil. Driven out because the Devil’s system of hate and lies is exposed as it crucifies the innocent Christ. This is an act too horrible, too unjust, and too overwhelming to withstand scrutiny. The devil is unmasked because in the crucifixion (and the killing of innocents in the name of some higher cause) is revealed to be the evil that it is.
The devil thought he was having a big day when he went up against Jesus. But in that suffering and death of Jesus Christ upon the cross we came to understand that God does not stand back from the evil and suffering in this world. God is willing to enter into our suffering, to endure it even to death on a cross, and to transform it into an episode of love and grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
So that Good Friday turned out not to be the Devil’s big day, but God’s big day. The devil overreached himself and gave God the opportunity for Easter, the day of resurrection, the crashing down of the very gates of hell, and the opening day of eternal life.
This is a service of remembrance. We want to remember those who have died, injured, mourn, rescue workers, eyewitnesses, missing.
But this might be the hard thing to remember: Can we remember Jesus through all those who have become the grains of wheat buried in the rubble of Tuesday’s tragic events? Can they be signs reminding us that the crucifixion is not over yet? Can they be signs that compassion and love needs to grow and bloom all over this world, so that the devil’s system and schemes finally come to an end?
If these who have been hurt have been the grains of wheat, the seeds buried in the rubble, what has been the fruit? Think with me of all the ways the ruler has been driven out. Can’t you discern a burst of sensitivity? People outdoing one another in love? Acts of great heroism and small kindness? An increase in tenderness? A greater desire for connection? A yearning on the part of so many to be of help? A need to make a difference for good? A great realization that we depend on God? More people have prayed more this week around here than I’ve seen in quite a while.
As Christians that is the insight/testimony/faith/story that we have to offer. We know a God who was willing to come to earth to suffer and die to bring reconciliation and peace between us and God, and also between us and us.
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth [when I am lifted up on the cross] I will draw all people to myself. Jesus goes on to say that he is the light. “Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness you do not know where you are going. While you have the light,” Jesus tells us, “believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
The devil thinks he had a big day on Tuesday. But the question for us is what we do to keep the devil from having a big day tomorrow.
Another way to ask that question is “Are we willing to walk in the light?”
Are we willing to live in compassion and integrity? Are we willing to devote ourselves to outdo one another in love? Are we willing to stay connected with God and with each other? Are we willing to speak up for our Muslim neighbors who are having a hard time right now because of threats and actual violence? Are we willing to recognize with St. Paul that our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places?
And not just in the heavenly places – also in our hearts and our lives. There is no place for self-righteousness as we walk in the light of Christ’s love. Are we willing to forgive others even as God forgives us? Are we willing to live lives that are light to the world?
May our resolve to live and walk in the light of Christ not be shaken by terrorist explosions or by the tempting calls of the Devil to join in the legions of hate and vengeance.
Let us pray for those who suffer and mourn. Let us pray for all the leaders of the world that as they carry out their responsibilities that they will do so with wisdom, full deliberation and with hearts of compassion for the innocent of other lands.
And finally, let us not be afraid. We can walk into the future without fear because Christ goes before us and Christ walks beside us. Be not afraid.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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