Armistice, Remembrance, Cenotaphs

Scripture
Jesus sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.” Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.” (Luke 22:14-19 MSG)

Armistice, Remembrance, Cenotaphs

Last week we paused to silently remember those killed in the line of duty during past wars beginning with the war “to end all wars” that ended in November 1919.  Sadly we now remember thousands who have died since that First War. It started out as Armistice Day celebrating the end of the war and has become Remembrance Day with a wider purpose.

Many gather at cenotaphs in Ottawa and cities and towns across the country – essentially an empty tomb to honour the dead. It’s been a powerful experience for me when I have attended in person because it focuses on the costs of aggressions and hostility and sobers the mind.

There are untold living casualties of aggression and hostility in our nation – social, economic, identities of race, colour and gender. We find it challenging to heal their wounds and bring peace in our time to the fractures in our culture.

We remember an empty tomb around a table set with bread and wine. We remember the cost of reconciliation of creation to the Creator and leave energized to live out that reconciliation – but it does mean we are first supplicants acknowledging our complicity in the brokenness. Then we hope to be persons of hope and healing in the Spirit of Jesus.

A Prayer for Today

O God, we come before you to remember that we regularly need forgiveness, regularly need to forgive, and regularly need to accept responsibility for our actions. There are so many in our communities who are bereaved, feel empty with loss, walk alone, uncertain and fearful. O God you know there are days when I am in this very group and other days when I may offer strength from my weakness. Let us remember the empty tomb and let the celebratory bread and wine lead us to hope and healing for ourselves and for those who come across our path …. For Jesus’ sake