September 11, 2001, Nine Years Later

I was just praying the Morning Office, using The Divine Hours. I was suddenly struck by how appropriate were the words of that particular office for the Saturday closest to September 7, which in this year fell on September 11th. "Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; when the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more" (Psalm 103:15–16). "And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9).

We all came face to face with our mortality on September 11th, 2001. Our seemingly secure homeland was attacked. The symbols of our prosperity (the World Trade Center), and our security and power (the Pentagon) were attacked, even destroyed. Americans who once assumed their invulnerability within our own borders found that confidence shaken.

Nine years later, amid the further dwindling of that prosperity, and wars which have not gone as we had hoped, it would be natural that fear of wars, revolutions, even clashes of civilizations, would only be heightened. Out of that fear, some respond by fighting fire with fire. "You" burned our buildings and our planes, so we will burn your holy book. But note that on this day, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, implores us to "not be terrified."

On this day we remember that, "My eyes are fixed on you, O my Strength; for you, O God, are my stronghold" (Psalm 59:10). And what is the nature of that strength? It is the strength of the Son of Man, who faced the same fear, the same sense of failure, that all people and all nations face. And yet this same Son of Man knows that death is not the end, but simply the prelude to Resurrection. He was seen by his disciples on the clouds going to Heaven, and we shall see him again on the clouds.

In the meantime, let us remember what the risen Jesus leaves us, on this day and all days: "Peace be with you" (Luke 24:36). And in that peace, let us pray, in the words of the collect for this week: "Grant me, O Lord, to trust in you with all my heart; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.†