John 15:13
Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
On this day, our nation stops and grieves. Other anniversaries often commemorate events which happened to our great-grandparents. We honor them, but we do not feel their suffering. But the events of September 11, 2001 are fresh and raw, even a year later. The heart still clutches. Our eyes still well with tears. We remember exactly where we were and what we were doing as the horror unfolded. We remember with pangs of loss and deep honor the courage of the heroes–firefighters, ordinary citizens, passengers of Flight 93–who gave the last full measure of devotion. And we are reminded again of the strange way in which sin, in itself hideous and nothing but hideous, is turned by God into the occasion of his immense glory, shining through the lives of heroes. May the peace and blessing of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Heroic Rescuer, be upon them and all the victims of that day. May him who was put to death in the ultimate act of insane evil bring peace to us all.
