Light in the Land of Darkness - Eulogy for the World Trade Center
I Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10
The Rev. Dr. Benjamin R. Doolittle
East Pearl Street Methodist Church
September 16th - 2001 - The Sunday after the Bombing of the World Trade Center
Holy, Powerful God, Our nation is at war with an enemy we cannot see, whose whereabouts we do not know. Guide us, as Christians, as a nation, to do your will. Use these words and our meditations to fortify us in the faith. In Christ’s name, Amen.
First, there is disbelief. Driving to the hospital. Getting bits and pieces working in the Emergency Room. A snatch of words from a reporter on the radio. A quick blurb on CNN.
The disbelief increases. What happened? The World Trade Center? Did she say it was gone?
The disbelief turns to mind-numbing shock.
And then the shock turns to grief and an overwhelming, flooding feeling of helplessness and violation.
No place is safe. And there is nothing I can do about it.
I want to break something! To smash someone! To strike out! To bomb something!
But where? And how? And who?
I want to crawl up in a cave and never come out! I want to live as a hermit. I never want to watch the news, never want to talk to anyone ever again. World, O World, don’t bother me!
Crushed. Overwhelmed. Numb. Frozen. Blown away by grief.
O God, O God, where are you? Why have you forsaken us? My heart cries out to you. My soul flees to you. But where are you when our country needs you most? When I need you most?
My God, my God, why have your forsaken us?
What evil, bone-crushing, fiery, devilish evil!
Where are you?
The world cries out to you, even those who do not know you.
And then, we, as a people, as a nation, try to look busy. We watch CNN, give blood, discuss, speculate. We watch CNN, trying to find meaning - where is God in all this? - and we get news, more speculation.
We dig in the rubble, searching for our broken heart, searching for our God.
This is us, now.
But this is what I believe to be true about God, where God is in all of this. Also, this is where I believe we stand.
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What was come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.”
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.”
And Jesus came to his disciples, after his resurrection, and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations . . . . And remember, I am with you always even unto the end of the age.”
“And remember, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”
Our nation has aimed its guns at Osama Bin Laden. Things will become more difficult before they become easier. There will be fighting and backlash. Our lives will become more vulnerable, before they become more secure. Our faith will be tested.
The evil is very great, and the darkness is very dark.
The evil that has touched East Timor, India, Kuwait, Paris, Milan, Atlanta, South Africa has touched us. We are vulnerable, exposed, naked to the violence and hatreds of the world. We now know, all too well, that we live in a fallen world.
But we are Christians. Mightier than the violence, stronger than the hatreds, is our faith. Our bodies might be crushed, but our faith is not. Our faith can heal. Our hearts may be broken, but our faith is not. Our faith can heal.
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.”
“And remember, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”
We are Christians. There are many important things to do. We must give our blood. We are asked to raise our fists. We shall buy war bonds, send flashlights and batteries, bandages, and canned goods.
Most importantly, we are Christians and we shall pray. We shall pray for justice. We shall pray for God’s will to be done. We shall pray for a swift peace. We shall pray for God’s Kingdom to fully come.
What the world seeks on CNN - comfort and resolve - we know already in our hearts.
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.”
“And remember, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”
Our faith will see us through. Our God will see us through.
Let us pray….
