Today is the 15th
anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. On that horrible
morning, a group of terrorists flew commercial jets into the Twin Towers of the
World Trade Center and into the Pentagon. A fourth plane was high above
Pennsylvania, on a path toward Washington, DC, when it was brought down by its
brave passengers.
How well we remember. September 11
is a day we will never forget. But as Christians, we do not remember in the sense
of simply recollecting an important event. No, our approach is different, and
it is deeply rooted in the biblical idea of remembrance. This is the approach
that Jesus took when he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”1 In
the Christian faith, remembrance brings an event from the past into the
present. It recalls an event in such a way that it has a powerful effect on the
here and now.
Think of Holy Communion, the meal
that reminds us of the gruesome death of the Son of God. Jesus’ body was broken
and his blood was spilled not in a glass and steel tower but on a wooden cross.
When we remember Jesus at his table, we realize that he is with us now, present
in a powerful way, transforming our todays and our tomorrows.
Something similar should be happening
right now. As we remember September 11 — also known as 9/11 — we should be
focusing on how the events of 2001 can shape 2016, and how our memory of the
past can transform our actions in the future.
In particular, 9/11 can inspire us
to leave no one behind.
Lost sheep and coins
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