Remembering

This coming Sunday we will remember those who’ve gone before and fought for peace and justice. As Christians we do this knowing that we worship the Prince of peace, the Almighty one. How strange then to read in the gospel (Luke 21:5-19) for Sunday of Jesus saying that there would be war and people were not to be terrified, they were to stay strong. I often worry about this, the idea that regardless of everything going on around us we are to stay strong, to not panic.  To be honest this makes me wonder how? In this last year we have seen the awful things that have happened in Ukraine, we know of suffering throughout the world and we want to have something we can offer to make things better. In the gospel reading it’s almost like a rallying call. A call to keep going in spite of everything.

I found it really interesting when I looked at the passage to note that after all the awful things of war, arrest and persecution for their faith Jesus tells the disciples that not a hair on their head would perish. This is certainly an encouragement, and where better to find protection than with God and in His love.  This helps to make sense of terrifying moments, or a world in turmoil. 

It is certainly true that those who have served in the armed forces, those who have lived in war torn countries know a distress and turmoil in a way that is far beyond most of our own experiences. It is right to remember this, and to pray for those who suffer turmoil today. 

Of course, we all have experiences of turmoil and distress in our own lives and for these occasions it is important to remember that the same promise the disciples where given, that not a hair on their head would be touched, applies to us as well.  This is because I take the statement of not a hair on your head being touched to mean more than a literal sign. I take it as a promise of protection, a promise that we are never deserted by God. 

The gospel reading gives us not only a warning of things to come, and the promise of protection it also helps us not to get carried away with ourselves. To not believe the latest thing. I can be both very cautious and then suddenly impulsive. I hope that if I saw people claiming to be Jesus I would take a moment before following them. Of course, my impulsive side might get the better of me. Jesus warns the disciples against doing this. I hope that I would take a measure of caution. That I would stay true to God. 

I know that bad and terrifying things do happen, but I also know that God will never desert us. In verses 13-15  of the passage Jesus explains that the disciples would need to give a defence for their faith. After this He strangely tells them that they do not need to prepare. This is because, in these situations, He would give them the words to say.

Promises of protection, words to say, Jesus was making it clear that the disciples wouldn't be deserted. This is the same for us today. We are never alone and in the most distressing of circumstances we can know that we not only cling to the promises made by Jesus but we can also know that everything will work out.

I think that when it comes to Remembrance Sunday we have an option to not only pray for peace and work to make it happen, but we have an option to do so knowing that the promises of God to never desert us are true. When we pray, we do so praying that people will truly know the promise of God to be with them.

In the midst of turmoil that we see on the news may we pray that people everywhere will find peace.  The final verse reminds us that when we keep going in our continued following of Jesus we will gain our souls. This makes it clear that, yes, it is all going to be ok in the end.  After all we can know that we are loved and also that our very being, our souls, are safe in the hands of God. May we never forget this