Readings: Ex.32:1,7-14; Jn.1:1-18
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Church, Cupertino, CA
This week, our country experienced a darkness that will change our lives forever. The darkness began on Tuesday, as hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center and crippled the Pentagon. The darkness continued as 5000 innocent lives were snuffed out. The darkness continued as the New York sky darkened from the ash and smoke of imploded buildings. And the darkness continues, as millions mourn the death of loved ones and friends.
But "the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." On Tuesday, September 11th, this country saw the darkness of evil and yet responded with light. The light that shines in the darkness included the compassionate and heroic efforts of thousands of rescue workers and individual citizens who risked their lives so that others could live. The light that shines in the darkness included the immediate response of the iron workers who came to lift debris, the restaurant workers who gave away their food, the shop keepers who gave away supplies to help those who were affected by the tragedy. The light that shines in the darkness included the thousands of Americans who offered blood, time, talent, treasure, and prayers in response to the "attack on America."
This light is the true light which enlightens everyone. It is the light of love, lived out of mercy and forgiveness. It is the light of love, lived out in justice and freedom. It is the light of love that the world longs to experience. What we have seen with our eyes, what we have touched with our hands, what we have felt in our hearts are the acts of love which sustain life and are symbolized as "light". At the core of our Christian faith is the belief that this light shines in the darkness and that darkness will not overcome it.
On Tuesday evening, this community came together to pray for our nation and mourn for those who lost their lives. We prayed for justice and peace, mercy and forgiveness. We prayed for our President and those in authority and we prayed for our enemies. Many left that service of prayer conflicted in their hearts. There were many questions like: "Why are we praying for peace when we need to respond in a military fashion to the evil that was perpetrated on our country? How can we forgive our enemies who are trying to destroy us? What is the appropriate Christian response towards the use of force and violence of war?
I would like to remind each of us that any disciple of Christ who seriously struggles with issues of faith, will always experience an internal tension between justice and mercy, righteousness and forgiveness. Let's take a look at the four possible stances towards the use of force and violence of war.
The first stance is that of pacifism and non-resistance. This was the stance that the early Christian communities took in response to Roman occupation and oppression. It is supported by the Sermon on the Mount which calls people to a higher level of consciousness: Love your enemy, turn the other cheek, forgive the wrong. Our Mennonite brothers and sisters continue to embrace this stance today.
The second stance is that of a Religious War where acts of aggression are justified in the name of the God of righteousness. Examples of religious wars include: a)The Maccabean Revolt (3rd C BCE), when Jewish zealots fought against the Greeks who denied them religious freedom. b)The Crusades of the Middle Ages when Christians and Muslims fought over control of the City of Jerusalem. c) And in more recent times, the religious wars of Muslim fundamentalists who believe that Christians are not being faithful to the God of Abraham. They believe that Americans are idolaters who worship money and power rather the God who calls for justice and concern for human dignity.
The third stance is a National Interest War, where sovereign states attack other states simply because it is in their own national interest. These kinds of wars were prevalent during the Greek and Roman Empires and continued through the centuries as stronger nations colonized weaker nations.
Finally there is the Justified War where the decision to use force is restricted by certain ethical standards and rules of engagement that demand just conduct. A "just war" is permitted within the Christian tradition and is one way of responding to the "powers of the world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God." Let me review those principles. In a Just War, the decision to use force must meet these criteria:
There must be a just cause. Usually a "just cause" is restricted to responding to acts of aggression.
A Legitimate authority must declare the war (i.e. a small private army or terrorist cell within a nation would not qualify.)
There must be a public declaration (i.e. lots of warning).
There must be "just intention."
The Scope of the use of force must be proportionate to the threat. For instance, one could not destroy an entire country in response to a verbal insult.
It must be the last resort. All reasonable means must be tried first.
Finally, there must be a reasonable hope of success. To begin a war that can not be won, is a crime against humanity, an injustice to our troops and our citizens.
Out of these four possible stances towards the use of force, only Pacifism and the Justified War are intellectually and morally honest for the Christian. Pacifism focuses on the principles of mercy and forgiveness while the Justified War focuses on the principles of justice and righteousness. Since we are a parish that embraces diversity, either of these positions will be respected.
Finally, I want us to think about a few issues in light of the recent attack on America.
Our nation has been described as a nation of "torn hearts." When the heart is torn, it can go two ways. A torn heart can shrivel up when its wounds are allowed to fester into revenge, or when fear takes hold and wipes out compassion. A torn heart can also expand, filling its chambers with compassion and light. Whatever actions we take as a nation, it must be the expanded heart and not the shriveled heart that informs our decisions.
As we strive to protect our deeply held convictions of freedom and democracy, we must be very careful not to give up our civil rights in the name of security. We are here on this planet for only a short time. And while we are here, we must strive to protect our freedom as well as the dignity of every human being. This is what the American Patriots fought and died for and we must not change this precedence out of fear for our own lives.
As Episcopalians we are called to "think the faith." We are more comfortable with ambiguity and challenges than those in other Christian denominations. We are called to struggle with difficult questions and to search for the truth. We have been accused by many nations in the world of worshipping the "golden calf" (like the Israelites in today's reading from Exodus). Is there any truth in this statement? Does making money take priority over our care and compassion for people of this world? Have we misused our power for national self-interest? There is an interconnectedness of life. Any imbalance within that interconnected structure forces the organism to react in a way that restores balance. If there is any truth in this, then we are called to "right" the "wrong."
St. Jude is the saint of hope, the saint of desperate causes. As members of a parish that has chosen St. Jude as its patron saint, we have a particular responsibility to be beacons of light. We are to partners in prayer, agents of healing, bearers of good news, and beacons of hope. Without hope, the human heart would break.
Finally, the attack on America reminds us of our need for spiritual emergency preparedness. We need to deepen and strengthen our spiritual foundation for the years that lie ahead. One does not learn to swim after the ship has sunk. Neither can one respond faithfully to terrorism, war, death, fear, and sacrifice, unless our faith is built on solid ground. How we respond to stress has much to do with our religious convictions. This is the time for us to pray, to study, to reach out, to practice discipleship, and to be open to transformation so that we can truly reflect the light to those who walk in darkness.
The paschal candle has been placed out in full view to remind us all that the light is shining in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. For "neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8)
| Updated 9/16/01 |
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