St. Paul's Episcopal Church 425 Cleveland Ave SW Canton, Ohio 44702 Phone: 330-455-0286 Fax: 330-455-9818 E-mail: office@stpaulscanton.org

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Holy Cross Day (transferred) St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Canton OH John 12:31-36

September 13, 2009 The Rev. Barbara L Bond

Drawing the whole world to a new vision   Our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself. What a transformative image:  Jesus, his arms outstretched, is welcoming the whole world into his embrace.  Even the horror of his execution, the crucifixion, is recreated, envisioned anew, as a time to bring God’s people together. Our collect for today, Holy Cross Day, begins with that image, which echoes what Jesus himself said in the Gospel:  that by his crucifixion, Jesus draws the whole world to himself. On this weekend we have many reminders of the horror of September 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, using passenger airplanes.  A benign form of transportation was turned into terrorist weapon, bringing down the World Trade Center towers, punching a hole in the side of the Pentagon, and heading towards the White House or the Capitol when that fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania.  The images remain seared in our minds and memories.  We understand why these targets were chosen:  they were symbols of American financial, military and political power.    Right next to Ground Zero in New York stands a small Episcopal church, St. Paul’s Chapel, which miraculously survived the onslaught, and became a center for relief work.  Rescue workers, volunteers, firefighters, came into the chapel, were cared for, were offered respite.  Food and supplies were brought in and sent out from the chapel.  Volunteer chaplains were summoned from all across the country, to come to New York and be available to the shell-shocked populace.  On September 14, a Friday in 2001, we experienced a National Day of Mourning, with a special service at the National Cathedral.  The service came on Holy Cross Day, and drew many many people in response to this tragedy.  Churches were full for many Sundays thereafter – the tragedy shook us to the depth of our souls. We didn’t know where else to go.  We were drawn together, in the shadow of the cross.    Work continued for a long time at Ground Zero, as debris was sifted and removed.  Eventually, in one part of the site, two huge steel beams were uncovered, two beams that had once been a part of the structure of the towers, but now were naked.  The beams formed a cross.  When they were uncovered, the effect was rather as Jesus described it:  the steel beam cross drew many people to itself, and became a site for communion services, right there in the middle of the rubble.  The towers were razed, and in the ruins, there rose up a cross. Ground Zero is now being transformed into a memorial to those who died there, and it will include two square pools and cascading waterfalls.  How fitting, that this place of death and destruction should be transformed into a place of healing.  We Christians recognize the symbol of water, as a sign of deliverance and of transformation.  In baptism, water washes us clean symbolically, and we are changed.  Ground Zero will also be changed, transformed into a symbol of hope. The biggest transformation accomplished this year was declaring September 11 a National Day of Service.  Volunteers heeded our President and Congress, and performed many tasks to build up their communities.  The emotions of eight years ago have been put to good use as our people help each other and serve their neighbors. We celebrate Holy Cross Day today as we welcome home many friends we haven’t seen in a while, and many newcomers who have joined us only recently.  We are drawn together, in the sight of our cross, drawn into our community of St. Paul’s, a community that is also in transformation.  We are discovering new ways to be of service in here and outside our walls. The original cross, the cross of Jesus, was an instrument of torture and death, but it was transformed into a symbol of healing for the whole world.  The steel cross that emerged at Ground Zero was itself a result of destruction, but became a strong drawing point for reverence.  The site is being transformed into a place of remembrance and healing.  Our National Day of Mourning has been replaced by a National Day of Service.  And here at St. Paul’s, we draw together in the name of our Savior, who was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself. Welcome home.