A Prayer on 9/11

A prayer offered during morning worship at Cordele First United Methodist Church, September 11, 2011.

Father,

We are here this morning with thoughts and memories that we would rather not have.  We are here this morning and we remember where we were ten years ago on this day. We are here this morning and we recognize that for many there are loved ones who are not.

There are no words that will ever be able to capture the feelings of sorrow, pain, loss, anger, frustration and disbelief that many of us felt as we watched our innocence stripped away. There are no words that could ever be spoken or written that could ever capture the struggle of faith that many of us endured as we tried to make sense of the wickedness and evil that exists in this world.

The danger that we faced that morning, and the danger that we face this morning is not that terrorists or war will end our lives. The danger that we faced that morning, and the danger that the we face this morning is that terrorists and war will end our faith.

The age old question of evil in the world causes us to doubt and to question your goodness and your power and your presence in our lives. But, it is in moments like these that we must focus our attention toward one point in history. A moment in time long before there were words like “terrorist” and “America” and “9/11”. That point in history, in many ways, looks very much like our day.

Two-thousand years ago, in the city of David, the Savior was born so that he might bring to an end the reign of evil, not just in the world, but in our hearts. Two-thousand years ago, on the banks of the river Jordan, the Son of God, initiated the plan of God to redeem his enemies unto himself. Two-thousand years ago, outside the city gates, the lamb of God was slain, and the veil in the temple was rent so that ALL might approach the throne of grace.

Jesus is the answer to the suffering of our world. Jesus is the answer to the sorrow of our hearts. Jesus is the answer to the doubts of our minds. Jesus is the answer to the fear of our souls. Jesus is the answer that God has given to us when our lives are loosing their bearing. Jesus is the answer.

And because Jesus is the answer we all can call upon you, God, as our father. You see all of our concerns and you ask us to come to you. And for that we give thanks.