18 September 2001

Responses to 11 September 2001

Weeping Over the City, Learning the Things That Make for Peace:
A Response to the Tragedy of 11 September in the United States

by the Programme Director of The London Mennonite Centre

‘As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!’ 

                                                  —Jesus (Luke 19.41-42a, NRSV)

‘As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it.’   Yes, how could he not?  This was a city, these were a people he loved, a people with whom he shared an identity.  Jesus, a man of compassion, wept for the city of Jerusalem.  So how could we not weep as we watched the horror that unfolded on the 11th of September in the U. S.?  The buildings in flames, crashing to the ground, were filled with thousands of people, people going about their daily lives, individuals with mothers and fathers, friends, and in many cases dependent children.  Very many of these people were to die within the period of an hour.  And this is not to mention the hundreds who perished in the Pentagon.  Nor the hundreds who, as hostages, became unwilling co-passengers on a horrendous suicide mission.

Tears, grief, and intense sorrow are quite appropriate responses to such incredible suffering.  As an American I could not help but be moved as I saw the President of the United States holding back tears as he spoke of this immense tragedy.  Nor could I help but feel emotion and gratitude as the Queen, for the first time ever, ordered the playing of the American National Anthem at the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

Those whose lives have been quite personally affected by these tragedies continue, quite appropriately, to grieve.  Many still do not yet know for certain that family members or friends are dead; they continue to have a hope that grows ever more dim.  We err if we curtail the needed time for the grief.  There are profound losses, personally and nationally.  The words of Nehemiah fit: ‘When I heard these words [and saw these images] I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.’ (Neh. 1.4, NRSV)

This is a national tragedy.  But of course it is unlike most tragedies; this was not a natural disaster.  No, these were terrorist attacks.  These were carefully planned attacks intended to cause great suffering and pain.  They were carried out by people who believed the United States of America deserved such suffering.  Given these intentions and the immensity of the suffering caused, it is understandable that many Americans feel anger and even outrage at those who have inflicted such suffering. 

Like our Lord, we as Christians weep.  But we do not just weep.  The compassion and empathy that lead us to cry out to the Lord on behalf of the victims, also cause us to seek the face of our Lord.  For we know that the same One who wept for the city of Jerusalem also suffered the horrible death of a criminal at the hands of the state-sponsored violence of crucifixion.  And yet hanging from his cross he looked upon those responsible for his death and said: ‘Father, forgive them’.  Echoing across the centuries these words have underscored Jesus’ earlier call issued to all who would be his followers: ‘Love your neighbours as yourselves’; love your enemies’.  Through these words and his life as a whole Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, helps us to know ‘those things that make for peace’. 

As people who follow this Jesus, we call upon all Christians to seek the mind of our Lord, to reflect seriously upon what it means to love our neighbours as ourselves and to love our enemies in the face of this tragedy.  Without in any way excusing or trivializing the horrible acts that were committed on the 11th of September, we reflect, seriously reflect upon why these acts were committed.  We listen, seriously listen to neighbours and even ‘enemies’ as they tell of  their perceptions of the evils, the sins perpetrated by the United States around the world.  It is important to know—for those who love their neighbours and their enemies—what their ‘enemies’ believe they have done that is deserving of such punishment.  It is also vital that we give serious consideration to these accusations, knowing the temptation to dismiss them too easily.  Only after we have paused to reflect upon the potential sins of our own nation (and our complicity as Christians who are citizens of our nation, America or Britain) do we have any right to address our government or other governments or those of other religions. 

After grieving our own pain and losses; after honestly expressing our outrage at such acts; after reflecting upon our own sins and the sins of our nation; after looking to our Lord whom we follow; only then do we dare address our national leaders and other leaders and media within our nations, working on behalf of peace and justice in the world in light of our commitment to follow our Lord.  (The accompanying statement from our ‘Bridge Builders’ programme begins that task.)

– Mark Thiessen Nation, 14 September 2001

on behalf of the staff of the London Mennonite Centre, British and American