An Excerpt From a “Hymn for 9/11”
by JMA Wright
The years have passed and now we mark
The depths of that dark day,
As we draw closer to the One
Who promises the way
To move beyond our brokenness,
Of days like nine elev’n
To build twin towers of peace and love
And make earth more like heaven
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I have always been in awe of the above picture. Amid so much devastation and unbelievable loss, this cross was found in the rubble of the twin towers. For us it is a reminder of God’s love for the world in the midst of suffering. We know that through Christ and his saving work on the Cross, somehow God has redeemed the brokenness of the world. The Cross is an essential part of our salvation story. One cannot pole vault over Good Friday to get to Easter. The Cross must be endured. I find it fitting that the anniversary of 9/11 falls three days before the church’s celebration of the Feast of the Holy Cross on September 14.
The Cross is an integral part of our story as Christians, but it is not the whole story. There is hope. The Feast of the Holy Cross is an opportunity to celebrate the Easter side of the Cross. As we gaze at the Christus Rex above the altar in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s, we are reminded that the story does not end at the Cross. The story continues with a glorified, wounded and risen savior. Our savior is one who was raised from the dead, and still has the scars to show. He did not appear to Thomas with a pristine resurrected body. He appeared with the wounds.
Suffering is a part of our story. We are called as Christians, to see and be the light in the darkness… even in the midst of our own. We are called not to hide our scars but to use them for the healing of the world. There are plenty of crosses in the world and in our lives right now. There is immense brokenness and suffering everywhere we look. However, like that 9/11 cross reminds us, there is always transformation and resurrection springing forth from the rubble.
There will be various ways to ponder the redemptive work of the Cross this week. Please join us for one.
Sunday, September 12
- 8:00 am – Spoken Eucharist
- 10:30 am – Festive Choral Eucharist
- 5:30 pm – Choral Evensong
Tuesday, September 14
- 12:10 pm – Spoken Eucharist for Holy Cross Day
Ever,
Caleb+