Remembrance Sunday and the World War letters

There are books that don't make good bed-time reading… the kind of books that make your heart heavy, the kind that make your spirit sink. One in particular contains letters during the war years.

I quote:-

'Letters came up with the bacon.

I heard from one woman friend, who has always seemed intelligent and understanding. Yet she asked this singular question:

"Is it as bad  as they say it is out there, or is it only the shortage of cigarettes that makes it seem so rotten?" The irony of it at that time made me giggle like a schoolgirl. The others wanted to know the joke, so I read it out aloud. Their comments were unprintable.'…

Another soldier wrote,

"It's over now," I kept on repeating to myself.

And so it was for me at any rate. When I came out of hospital many months later the Armistice had been signed. I was just twenty-one years of age, but I was an old man-cynical, irreligious, bitter, disillusioned. I have been trying to grow young ever since!"

"Another writes:_ 'I could see my friend was mortally wounded, but I had promised him that I would write to his parents and his wife and tell them he had died doing his duty.

"One more thing I want you to do for me," he said.

"What's that H ?"I replied.

"Pray for me now"

"I'm not much used to praying H,"I replied, "but I'll do my best."….

Stories like these from World War 1 help us to see the cold reality of war. I could read to you much more horrific and heart-rending stories but I won't . Let it suffice to say there is nothing glorious about war; apart from in the movies, on television, or propaganda posters; where war is portrayed as being a glamorous affair, full of bravery and bravado.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, nine out of ten victims were soldiers.

Today due to modern technology, the arms trade and the nature of war itself, the situation is now reversed. Nine out of ten victims are now civilians, the vast majority of these women, children and the elderly.

Since World War 1, there have been hundreds of wars all over the world, and the cost of war has been an obscene.

The Gulf War alone cost $53 billion.

Did you know that developed countries  spend about 20 times more on their military programmes than on economic aid to the poor countries of this world, where millions face starvation.

Weapons of war have become more lethal than ever, and many are in the hands of unpredictable regimes.

There are no rights and wrongs about war. There will always be those who violently oppose it, because they believe that nothing at all can justify the destruction and waste of life.

Equally there will always be those who believe so strongly in a particular cause, that they are ready to kill-or be killed-for that cause.

Many see war as a necessity, to defend loved ones against an enemy, so therefore to defeat and kill that enemy is right and just.

But let us also remember today those who have died defending what they believe is a just cause, when their enemy happens to be us!

When we read in our newspapers about conflict, we need to make up our own minds about the rights and wrongs.

Today we have a window into the world through the media, brought to us as events happen.

It's important also to realize that we're not always told the truth about any situation, as we've been finding out about the recent war in Iraq.

Today we're called to remember all those caught up in wars past and present, who have so willingly responded to a call THEY COULD NOT IGNORE, to serve and fight and die for their country, giving up everything to try and make their stand against the will of evil people.

Through their sacrifice we have the freedom we enjoy today.

As Christians we too have been called to a life of service and sacrifice. We really don't know what the future holds for us, but we too have heard a CALL WE CAN'T IGNORE and we must make our responses, like those of the disciples in our gospel reading today who left their nets, their livelihood, their families, their future behind in order to follow the way of Jesus.

We, like many Christians down through the ages, are called to fight a different kind of war. The war that St Paul describes is a battle against the devil's schemes, not against flesh and blood, but the powers of this dark world; to bring light and life wherever there is despondency, hopelessness, faithlessness or fear.

Who better to follow, through the murk, the mire and the mud of what our world is fast becoming, than the one who so willingly sacrificed himself to the darkness, that we might have his light , and his own spirit within our lives today.

Amen

 Act of Penitence

Priest: Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world:

its pride and selfishness, its greed;

its evil divisions and hatreds.

Let us confess our share in what is wrong,

And our failure to seek and establish peace

which God wills for His children.

After a short silence  all say:-

Most merciful God,

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

We confess that we have sinned

in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

In your mercy forgive what we have been,

help us to amend what we are,

and direct what we shall be;

that we may do justly, love mercy,

and walk humbly with you, our God

Amen

Almighty God, have mercy upon US,

pardon and deliver us from all OUR sins,

confirm and strengthen US in all goodness and

keep US in life eternal life.

Intercessions and an Act of Remembrance

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

Let us remember before God,

And commend to his sure keeping:

Those who have died for their country in war

Those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure

 And all who have lived and died in the service of

 humankind.             

 We pray this day for all who have suffered and who still

suffer as a result of war…

.

  Priest: They shall not grow 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.

Repeat

All: We will remember them

Here follows the two-minute Silence

The Last Post and Reveille followed by Amazing Grace

Priest: Almighty and eternal God

From whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,

either by death or life:

Hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day;

Fulfil in them the purpose of your love;

And bring us all, with them to your eternal joy;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessing:-

God grant to the living, grace

To the departed, rest

To the Church, the Queen, our country and all humankind; peace and harmony

And to us and all God's servants; life everlasting

And may the blessing of God Almighty…….