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On the second Wednesday in September, the nation again mourned the loss of the many citizens: firemen, police officers, port officials, military personnel, fathers, mothers, men, women and children who lost their lives a year ago, September 11, 2001. These were the innocent victims of our worst national tragedy.
I, like you perhaps, watched memorial services being conducted all over the entire globe. There were services from London to L.A., New York to Norfolk. It was so moving to hear all the names of the dead being read, one by one, name by name. Charlie Gibson, of Good Morning America gave details of some as the names were called; this one planning an anniversary celebration, another planning time off the next day for his birthday. It made us to see them as "real" people, rather than just another "victim" whose life was taken all too soon. I was privileged to attend a "Service of Remembrance" in which appropriate prayers were said, Scriptures of our trust and faith in God were read and hymns of patriotism were sung. It was good to remember.
There was a man whose name was Jesus. He was the most innocent victim the world has ever seen. In fact, he, unlike his contemporaries, never sinned. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, about A.D. 33, said to the Jews of his day, "you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross,"-Acts 2: 23. He would later write to remind persecuted innocent Christians in Asia of the example of Jesus, who "committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats."-1 Peter 2:22-23.
This same Jesus, whom the writers of the New Testament claimed to be Christ and Lord, instituted a simple feast of unleavened bread and wine to aid his followers in a service of "remembrance." He instructed them, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."-Luke 22:19. So on Sunday, the Lord's Day, we remember his perfect life, his teachings, and his death. But we remember so much more. Christianity didn't end in a tomb. On the first day of the week, he was resurrected from the dead. That gives to the victims of 9-11 and the world a reason to hope. Because of Christ's innocent life, we have hope that extends beyond the grave.
We do right to be saddened at the tragic losses of 9-11. But, that loss is minimized when each Sunday, on the Day of Remembrance, we view that loss through the lens of the cross and a tomb that lies forever empty.
Tom Nuckels |