Memorial Day Weekend, otherwise known as ‘sorry Father, I’m worshiping at St. Lake on the Beach’, is where we remember those who came before us. We give thanks to the men and women of our military for their service, their sacrifices; these patriots give their time, their passion, and sometimes their lives for this and other nations around the world. Recurringly, soldiers leave to defend and come back less appreciated, thus creating a feeling of isolation and despair. Where do they fit in, where is the ‘home’ they defended so vigorously? They are trailblazers and heroes, even if their service was limited to being stationed in non-combat areas; yet, Memorial Day’s greatest meaning comes in the form of remembering those who lost their lives defending the country and people they cherish. They should be remembered, named, and lauded for their service, not scoffed at by those who haven’t seen war and think peace is attainable by simple abstention from conflict.
No, these people go and fight so that others may find peace and safety.
I hope that you and your family will honor the memory of those who died for this country, for others in other countries, this weekend. While you’re at the lake, or in the backyard, take a moment of silence for the men and women of militaries across the world—people who devoted themselves in defense of tyranny, injustice, oppression and genocide. They saw the worst in humanity and still sought to march into the fray rather than run away.
God loves all of humanity, equally. I do not think God pleasures in killing, nor do I believe God desires for us to have to fight. But sometimes justice requires sacrifice, and the character of soldiers is molded into that of an unbreachable bulwark which stems the tide of innocent blood. I believe, as Christians, we serve in a soldier capacity, too. We are to be the bulwark that stands tall against evil; the loving body of Christ that steps in front of the poor, the afflicted, the friendless and the needy. And let us also remember that the ultimate sacrifice, the general of our army, died on a cross to save every generation of every nation in one act of defiance. Christ did not walk away, he reached into the jaws of death, pried them open, and defeated the evil that threatened the world. He rose from death, from the ashes, and ascended on high so that we could continue his work as his reborn hands and feet, being freed from the tyranny of evil—true evil—if we would only choose to be brave like those before us. Just like the men and women who fought physical evil, we must honor those who fought the insidious evil of sin. The saints, the believers who came before us.
Spend a moment in silence for the fallen heroes of wars’ past. Spend a moment in thankful prayer for the martyrs of faithful justice. And remember that you are part of the present army of God, the ones who take up the mantle of Jesus Christ to keep thwarting evil in this world so that we may march to heaven with our heads held high, and our arms wide open, receiving the ever-longing and loving embrace of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+