Lest we forget

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I asked the Children this week about today’s Gospel I asked them if I had 10,000 pounds and gave a pound to charity was it a lot to give a way they said “No.” Then I said to them that if I had 2pence and gave 1 penny to charity would that be a lot of money and they said “Yes.”  She gave actually all she had.

Today a Country remembers its war dead they like the widow in the gospel gave all of themselves. It is right and proper that every year we pause on this day to pray for them.  But in this act of remembrance what are we actually doing. I believe that we are doing two things we are thanking God for the sacrifice these brave men and women down the ages have given so that we can freely worship in this Church and the sacrifice that was made by those families who let their loved one go to war.

But, we are also remembering the armed forces that are still today as I speak who are serving to keep this freedom. But, the emphasis has slightly changed in the last few years to also looking towards a lot more the families who also make that sacrifice, with the success of the military wives we have been exposed to this other side of the armed forces.

We can be like the scribes puffed up and not join in with the act of remembrance making themselves present by their supposed self importance, but not realizing that the freedom to think this way comes from the sacrifice made by those who went to war. Let us again listen to the words that Jesus said about the woman at the end of the Gospel today “but she from the little she had has put everything she possessed, all she had to live on." And so let us remember but also pray for peace and an end to conflict among all people. Let their sacrifice not be in vain for we need to fight also for peace in our families communities. Do people live in freedom in our home town, or do they live in fear of persecution? In our act of remembrance let us not forget those who gave of themselves for our freedom. 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.






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