On this day, the eleventh of November, when everyone remembers and gives thanks to those who have died for our freedom, I am conflicted. Because they also killed for our freedom. It is not that I am not grateful for the sacrifices of life and health and family and friends. I am grateful. But there is a difference between laying down your life for others and taking the life of another. I just don't know how to feel. I see Jesus dying on a cross, I hear Jesus teaching to love our enemies. I see Jesus commanding us to take care of the needy, to bind up the brokenhearted, to love our neighbours as ourselves - regardless of the dictators of the day. Being a pacifist is not being a passive-ist. It means to bring peace, to lay down the sword. Being a pacifist means valuing the life of the person who wants to do you harm as much as you value your own. Remembrance Day is a solomn occasion where the world remembers our victory and cost to achieve it. It reminds me of a time when the Church stopped listening to Jesus. For if the Christian nations of the West and the Christian nation of Germany had been following Jesus' teaching - there would have been no armies. To remember is to work for peace.
This year, we are celebrating Martinmas, The feast day of St. Martin of Tours. He started out as a Roman soldier until one day, as legend has it, he saw a beggar at the city gates, freezing with cold. He cut his red woolen cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. That night dreamed he saw Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he had given away. Jesus asking him if he recognized it, which he did and realized he must convert and devote his life to Christ.
When he was around 20 years old, he had a military victory and was to go before Emperor Julian to receive his reward. He was moved to refuse the bounty, saying "Up to now, I have served you as a soldier; allow me henceforth to serve Christ. Give the bounty to these others who are going out to battle. I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight." Emperor Julian accused him of cowardice and had him imprisoned until a truce was called.
This year we will make lanterns and bake spice cake and read his story as a small way to reflect the values we hold most dear to us - compassion, selflessness, peace. To remember to give them causes worthy of giving their lives for- but not worthy of taking those of others. It is a journey for us as we work through this peace-teaching of Jesus.
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