A Reflection on Remembrance day
Matthew 5:9
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 10:34
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Remembrance Day confronts us with a challenge. On the one hand, we want to honour those who have served in the military especially those who have died defending Canada and other people in the world. On the other hand, we want to state clearly that war is horrible and should be avoided at all costs.
The two quotes from Jesus, make this even more complicated. I will not be able to deal with all the questions these verses raise.
I want to say simply that being a peacemaker is not an easy road, there are times when seeking peace – living for peace – acting for peace – comes with a high price. When we seek to act as peacemakers – there will be people who get upset with us. At times being a peacemaker means inviting people to change their patterns of life, invites them to examine their lives and recognize that they need to change the way they talk, act, and live. Such change will cause anger, hurt, frustration.
To make peace happen requires that I give up patterns that cause threat, hurt, or alienation on the other side. Peace may mean that I have to limit how late I play my loud music, peace may mean that I have to keep my comments about how people dress to myself, peace may mean that I have to change the ways I do things.
Peace is not easy; it comes with a cost. At times the path to peace comes only through conflict, but peace is always the goal, for one day the Prince of Peace will reign. Always remembering that the Prince of Peace, Jesus, gave up his life for peace to come.
PRAYER:
Bring peace, O Lord, bring peace, and let it begin in us. Make us willing to pay the high price for peace. Teach us to honour those who in courage served in the conflicts in which our nation has been involved. Give us courage to follow the path of your Son, the Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.