My friends, children of a single God,
I give thanks to God that none of the members or constituents of the
Universalist National Memorial Church died in the violence of September
11. We, at least many of us, were hurt by these dreadful acts, and will
carry the pain and laments with us, perhaps for years or a lifetime.
The
full measure of grief has not poured. Let us help one another to recover.
The questions are without number. What language can we use? Asa, facing
an
overwhelming army, "cried to the Lord his God, 'O Lord, there is
no
difference for you between helping the mighty and the weak. Help us,
O
Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against
this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let no mortal prevail against
you.'" (2 Chronicles 14:11) The multitude we face are the many
fears and
laments we share. Yet, "perfect love casts out fear," (1 John
4:18) that
is, a love which is whole and integrated. Those who have long turned
to
the Great Physician may now find a ready balm. To those who have not,
God
is near. Hear Jesus' new commandment, given on the night he was arrested
and given to die: "Love one another, as I have love you."
We should remember that our national outrage and hurt is set in a long
history, and many peoples have be subject to the same. The remaining,
skeletal framework of the World Trade Center visually brings to mind
the
ancient lament of the Psalmist, when his nation was attacked: "At
the
upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes." (Psalm
74:5,
NRSV) There the violation was of the Temple; here the loss is human
life,
perhaps numbering into the thousands, and the fruit of hard-wrought
labor.
This violation sets us with a company of people the living and the dead,
in all nations and times with whom we share not only a common bond of
life and hope, but of need and suffering. In looking for care, we find
generosity and help. Quick words of comfort have reached the church
office. Unitarian and Non-Subscribing Presbyterian ministers in the
United
Kingdom have reached out to our congregation. Vigils and observances
in
other countries, perhaps none so touching as those in Moscow, remind
us
that our world and humanity were attacked Tuesday. Let us be as eager
to
help when calamity touches other people. Let us also remember in prayer
the large numbers of Australians, Britons, Japanese, Koreans, Mexicans,
and others who died in our land as a result of the crashes. The promise
of
God lives with us: "The leaves of the tree [of life] are for the
healing
of the nations." (Revelation 22:2)
Among the nations, let us give special remembrance to Afghanistan,
virtually a nation of captives and refugees. I fear that association
between the perpetrators and supporters of the week's violence and the
acting government of Afghanistan will bring a strong retaliation whose
primary victims will be innocent Afghans. In our own land, rhetoric
and
petty acts of violence against Arabs, Muslims, Afghans, and those thought
to be these, is rolling into the threat of harm and death upon more
innocents. We should not "bear false witness against our neighbor."
I do
not worry that we will insight violence, or propagate hatefulness. The
sins of the good are more subtle, and may come through cowed silence.
This
anger and intimidation threatens to destroy the very outpouring of
goodwill that gives some solace after the disaster. Pray for peace,
forbearance, and tolerance.
In a pastoral letter attributed to the Apostle Paul, Timothy was urged
to
pray for those in authority. Many of us have responded by praying for
the
President of the United States, the Congress, the Mayor of the District
of
Columbia, the Governors of Mary and and Virginia, and others. Yet in
the
letter, those in authority would have been hostile forces. Like Jesus,
we
should not only pray for those with great responsibilities, but also
enemies. We should remember those who committed the violence in prayer,
too. Why must this be? If we believe much of what has been said of the
hijackers and their presumed organizers, we would believe a lie. These
too
were and are human beings, and not otherwise. It is hard to comprehend
the
forces or reasons that would lead someone to mass murder by suicide,
and I
pray we never know them. Pray that those who remain stop. We cannot
say
they were driven by joy, love, or peace, and if we were deprived of
these,
how would we respond and with what would replace them. "There but
for the
grace of God go I." This violence will test our faith: we should
not
surrender it in a fit of passion, however understandable.
Lastly, let us defend those who are least able to defend themselves:
the
young. Our faith and resolve, and constant affirmation of love and
protection, are their strength now. The moment may pass, but the images
remain. The young will need us now, and in months and years to come.
Those
old enough to know the events will mark their lives by it. In caring
for
our own needs, let us stand vigilant for these little one.
Now, keep the faith, and let perfect love continue. We will be measured,
first in the eyes of those around us, and then by our own souls in the
long moments of reflection to come, and at last by God, who is closer
than
anything or any being to our minds and spirit.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. (Philippians
4: 5). Peace be with you all.
(The Rev.) Scott Wells
