No matter how cold our hearts can become, God makes them burn again.
Good News: Days of infamy are overcome by the power of Easter.
Infamy is not a word we use so much in our vocabulary
It’s root is infamous which means an evil and horrendous reputation
Infamy ultimately meaning having those qualities
The word became a part of the American landscape by President Franklin Roosevelt
The occasion was the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese
His words were short and powerful
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy –
the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked
by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
2400 people died that day
World War II was now in full swing
For that generation, all you needed to do was mention 12-7 and it was a metaphor
For this generation, the day of infamy is September 11, 2011
A day when four jets where used as missiles against the American people
The World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon were hit
2700 died that day
The other night I watched a retrospective on the events of 9-11
Once again, I was brought back so easily to that terrible moment
The beautiful blue skies of the day with the backdrop of death
Just like December 7, September 11 is a metaphor
A symbol of a terrible day – a day of pain and injustice
We even use it to describe our lives when they shift for the worst
When death in whatever form comes our way, it’s our own personal 9-11
When days of infamy come our way, it leaves our hearts cold
As we witness the pain and injustice of the moment,
we are drained of faith, hope and love
That is what occurred for the two disciples of Jesus on the road to Emmaus
One was named Cleopas
The other is known only to God
They experienced their own day of infamy
Their own December 7, their own September 11
It was the crucifixion of their friend, leader and teacher
Jesus of Nazareth
There hearts had grown cold
With Jesus dead and gone, there was nothing left to do but go home
So they packed their bags and began their 7 mile journey
They were traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus
As they walked along, they were sharing their pain over the injustice
What happens next is exactly why I am a Christ follower, a Christian
Into the middle of their own December 7th and September 11th
Into their day of infamy
Into their pain and injustice
Jesus joins them on their journey
I love the details of this story
Notice Jesus walks side by side with them
Even though they fail to recognize him, Jesus is still present
He listens to them before he speaks
When he speaks he frames the conversation about his identity as the Christ
When they finally reach Emmaus, Jesus breaks bread with them
Did you catch that?
Jesus comes to them in Word and Sacrament
Let me repeat myself, Jesus comes to them in Word and Sacrament
It isn’t what they do, it’s what God does
That’s the power of Easter
And Cleopas and his unnamed friend described their transformation
Their hearts shift
They shift from being cold to burning
They are on fire with the power of Easter
So when the magnitude of December 7th and September 11th break into world history and our lives
Days of infamy that fill us with pain as we witness the injustice
Days which leave us with empty hearts
That is the moment Jesus joins us on our journey
Gives us the power of Easter in Word and Sacrament
Transforming us and giving us hearts that burn with love
So when September 11th unfolded, the nation paused
Remembered in prayer in churches, synagogues and mosques alike
Those who were suffering
We ministered to each other and joined each other in our pain
God was there
Then last week, word came that our special forces took out Bin Laden
Now we as Christians do not rejoice in the death of any human
Not even an evil one
But we do recognize the hand of providence
Just the same way Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany fell, Al Queda has fallen
Bin Laden is no more
God was there
One of the powerful images of September 11th for me is a cross found in the ruble of the ground zero site in NYC
As they were cleaning up the site
They found a cross made up of I – Beams
It went on display, still located at St. Peter’s Church in NYC
The cross is a symbol of Easter
A symbol that transcends and overcomes the 12-7 and 9-11 of life
A symbol that reveals God’s entering into our pain
A symbol that reveals God’s commitment to justice
A symbol that makes our hearts burn once again
And if God can handle world history, God can handle your personal history
Over the last three weeks of our Easter celebrations, we have heard how Easter’s power comes to us
It came to Mary as recorded in St. Matthew
It came to Thomas as recorded in St. John
It came to Cleopas as recorded in St. Luke
It comes for you as recorded in the book of life
So when the magnitude of December 7th and September 11th break into world history and our lives
Days of infamy that fill us with pain as we witness the injustice
Days which leave us with empty hearts
That is the moment Jesus joins us on our journey
Gives us the power of Easter in Word and Sacrament
Transforming us and giving us hearts that burn with love