It’s been a week, hasn’t it.
A week of watching the news for updates of world events; of learning of loss of national inspirations, of energetic discussions about our forthcoming municipal elections, and everyone’s opinion of the new provincial cabinet.
It’s been a week.
There’s been a lot of noise. Of rhetoric; of distraction; of uncertainty. Just about anywhere you go, you can hear conversations about what’s going on in the world.
If we’re not careful, this noise can make us feel stirred up, fearful, distrustful… It leads to a darkness ebbing in that can make us feel isolated; segregated; torn apart.
And so today: with that in mind: I invite us to remember.
For we are not the first people in history to feel this uneasiness.
We are far from the first generation to feel collectively destabilised.
And so: I invite us to remember.
To remember: a word that means to intentionally bring to mind an awareness of someone or something.
To purposefully bring the past into the present – for a specific reason.
And in doing so, we re---member. We re-connect; we re-establish bonds.
To re-member someone is to re-build relationship; it brings back into the community.
To re-member some event is to recall the lessons learned – and re-apply them to our lives today.
To re-member is to reconnect.
Regardless of the noise of the world; to remember is to work to bring back together.
And today: in the readings for this Sunday, we see the example of the re-connection of families; in the reading of Ruth.
And the Gospel warns of what happens when folks try to position themselves over others; thereby increasing division.
Jesus instead invites contemplation of how we can find ways to connect; to use what we have, never discounting that the small things can be the big things; when they are shared with authentic humble hearts, for the re-connection of communities.
And the epistle demonstrates the blessing of our access to the promises of Christ; himself emptying his glory to re-build covenantal connection with all of us.
The scripture – that we are invited to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest – can then tease out of us this week, ways that we can apply this call to remember – and re-member – the integration of our faith.
In coming together each Sunday; we come together despite our differences in sports teams and theology and politics and finances and… so on.
In coming together, we focus on what unites us: the love and grace of God, and the promises of salvation offered to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every Sunday, we come together to remember His sacrifice; and to be re---membered into the body of Christ.
In the eucharist, we hear the words of Jesus inviting us to be mindfully conscious of him; but also to bring him to all that we do.
“When you do this, do it in remembrance of me”.
To act and live in remembrance happens when We put God at the centre; we acknowledge Christ as our connection to every one; at every time.
We remember.
And so on this Remembrance Day –
We re-member those whose sacrifice has been made overseas, and at home; for those who never came home; for those who weren’t whole when they came home. We re-member those who served here at home; for all who work for peace.
We re-member those who served in the past; and those who continue to serve; and all those who support them; for the sake of peace and justice and equality for all.
We re-member them; they return to our minds, and they remain remembered and loved by God.
We honour them, who have suffered in conflict that we may know peace;
And we commit to doing our part to live in peace.
For in remembering, and re-membering, we are shutting out the excessive noise that would drive us apart, and working – together – to weave us back together, into a community of neighbours, of peace-seekers, and peace-builders.
To re-member is to live in the light: the light of Christ that is promised, the light that God brought into the world; the light that the darkness can never – NEVER overcome.
So I invite us to remember. To re-member.
And to commit – through our own intentions and the grace of God – to never forget.
From the church of England, I share an Act of Commitment:
Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and to each other:
that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.
we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,
in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name.
Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and always.
Amen.
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