Where were you when the plane hit the Twin Towers? Everyone has stories of September 11th. Yes, this is the day we remember, the day of the worst terrorist attack on the United States soil when thousand of lives were lost and many more thousands of lives were forever changed.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
Psalm 118:24 ESV
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
How can we rejoice on this day?
Most of us remember that day well and have our own story to tell. I shared mine a year ago here. These stories aren’t usually joyful ones that would lead to celebrations or cheers. Not at all. They are often filled with anxiety, suffering, sadness, fear, anger.
While I don’t want to diminish the stories of September 11th 18 years ago, I’d like reflect on another story that brings this day full circle for me.
Today, Concordia Publishing House, a Christian publisher, celebrates 15 decades serving the world by producing books, magazines, and “products faithful to God’s Word.” It has been a joy for me as a writer to partner with the CPH team for the past 15 years, to participate in the mission to point others to the Living Hope that is Christ Jesus.
So what’s the connection between these two anniversaries?
Life and death.
Eighteen years ago, we witnessed death. We watched in horror as the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. So many deaths.
Yet then we witnessed life. We heard countless stories of the heroes, the brave souls who worked together to take back United Flight 93, the firefighters, the flight attendants, the Marines, the tour guides. The people who saved lives. (If you want to read these stories, here’s a beautiful but gut-wrenching recap.)
Life and death.
Almost 2,000 years ago, many witnessed one death.
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:51-55 ESV
There was fear and anxiety and sadness.
Three days later, many witnessed life.
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
Mark 16:1-7 ESV
It’s what we have this side of heaven. Life and death, sadness and joy, bravery and fear. Every story, every life is filled with this paradox.
Yet in the middle of it all, we are not alone. We have a friend, a child, a neighbor, a counselor, a church. We have Christian companies like CPH that publish books and materials and Bibles to bring us back to the one thing, the only thing that ultimately matters.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 ESV
This is the real story for today, the one that matters. This is the reason I can rejoice every day. Even today. Especially today.
To God be the glory. I’m praying you can rejoice today wherever you are in your story.
Looking for more devotions and reflections on faith? Click here.
Photo by Rachel Pfuetzner on Unsplash
