The Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson,
We have gathered this evening in the face of the unspeakable tragedy this week. Terrorists have taken planes by force and suicidally crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing everyone on the planes, over 100 persons in the Pentagon, and perhaps tens of thousands in the World Trade Center. Two days have passed and we are still in a state of shock over what has happened. From the beginning, commentators have likened this tragedy to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and President Bush has declared it an act of war.
For the last two days, whenever Linda and I are at home, the television is on and we are watching reports from New York and Washington, and I suspect that is the case in just about every home in this country. When I’m in my car, I’m listening to it on the radio. The second phase of reporting has begun. The first phase told us about the actual incidents. In the second phase, reporters are beginning to tell us about individuals who lost their lives, victims of this great evil. One woman was to celebrate her anniversary tomorrow. A man left behind his wife and two children. They all leave behind loved ones who will feel the pain of this terrible and terrifying event for years to come.
We are shocked; amazed that such a thing could happen; and we are angry. It is impossible for us to understand the mindset of a terrorist who would kill so many innocent people; and I think it is even harder for us to understand how those who are not terrorists could actually rejoice over such an atrocity, but rejoice many did.
So why is it that we have chosen to be in this place tonight? Why is it that one of the things the television has shown over the last two days is people crowding into churches in record numbers? We have seen that here in our daily services. Is it that such a senseless tragedy leads us to reevaluate our priorities? Are we coming for answers to why such a thing could happen? Are we here to be comforted, to calm our fears? Are we here to find a way to deal with our anger? Are we here to offer our prayers for the victims and their families? Are we here to support our President and to lift him up in prayer? I suspect that, whether or not we have tried to articulate our reasons for being here, we are all here for all of these reasons.
But most importantly, I think we are here tonight because we want and need to be as close to our heavenly Father as we can be. We know that the comfort and strength and guidance that we and especially our leaders need are to be found in God. We Christians know that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. And so no Christian gathering, no matter how sad the occasion, can ultimately have a spirit of despair. And that is where I see a convergence between our faith and the American spirit. Watch the news reports and notice how many will end a gruesome, depressing report with the report of some heroic deed, some word of hope. And there is so much heroism to be found in the events of last Tuesday!
That’s what President Bush means when he says that terrorism will not and cannot break the American spirit. God is the One who has instilled that spirit in the American people, and even though many Americans today may not recognize it, I believe the mother of that spirit is the Christian hope based on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At any rate, that is why we are here, that is the place from which we derive comfort and strength, and it is that message that we proclaim.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
13 September, 2001