While Remembrance Sunday provides us with an opportunity to recall those men and women who sacrificed life and limb for the freedoms we now enjoy, it is not without controversy. For some, it glorifies victory and patriotism over peace and reconciliation, and leaves little space to discuss those individuals, who for a variety of reasons, chose not to fight. The life and death issues found in war and conflict can be contrasted with those discussed by Jesus and the pious Sadducees over the reality of the resurrection (Luke 20.27-38).
This week's news
- According to one report , immigrants to the UK since 2000 have made a ‘substantial’ contribution to public finances.
- According to another report , migrants are more likely to claim work benefits than Britons.
- The Quakers are to stage the 'White Feather Diaries' , a series of national events to honour World War One’s conscientious objectors.
- The efficacy of pay-day loan lenders is once again under the spotlight .
- The works of Picasso, Matisse and Dix have been found in Munich's Nazi art stash .
Reflection
This year’s Remembrance Sunday has added significance since it occurs in the lead up to the World War One centenary. As a result, the usual round of discussions about how we ought to remember the contributions of servicemen and women in the two World Wars, as well as other conflicts, have added poignancy. A few weeks ago, the Reverend Patricia Jackson hit the headlines after she declared she would be wearing a white rather than red poppy whilst conducting a Remembrance Day service in Shropshire. Her poppy choice was questioned by local councillors and the President of the Hadley and Leegomery Royal British Legion.
Likewise, the University of London Union, which represents students across the capital, recently agreed to bar senior officers from the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in London. Again, this decision was branded as disrespectful by several Members of Parliament and armed forces groups.
Additionally, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will launch its ‘White Feather Diaries’, a real-time social media storytelling project that will explore how those who refused to join up for the trenches (during World War One) faced being ostracised, branded as cowards or condemned to death for their beliefs.
Christians, like many others, have often grappled with the conundrum of how we mark conflicts such as wars, which often involve acts of outstanding bravery and huge sacrifice alongside those of extreme barbarity and unbelievable callousness. This has led to sharp disagreements which tend to surface in the run up to Remembrance events.
In today’s verses of Scripture, Jesus and the Sadducees discuss life and death issues connected to the resurrection. We know from the Bible that there were fundamental disagreements between the Pharisees and Sadducees over this key Jewish theological matter.
Jesus’ encounter with the Sadducees over this matter is fascinating. There is little doubt that the Sadducees’ near-unbelievable marriage scenario is geared to wrong-foot Jesus, so that they can reinforce their religious position. However, Jesus fails to engage with their outlandish poser, and instead provides a clear, cogent argument in favour of resurrection.
Luke’s Gospel does not tell us what the Sadducees said in response to Jesus’ answer. What we do know is that Jesus provided real insight and guidance on a matter that was controversial and divisive.
This time next month we will be marking Advent, a season where we look forward to the arrival of a Messiah, whose many titles include ‘Prince of Peace’. Jesus, who described himself as the ‘Resurrection and the life’, has the wherewithal to resolve those controversial issues over which we struggle today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
at this time of year,
when we consider the sacrifices made many years ago (and today),
in the name of freedom,
help us to be mindful that all freedom comes at a cost;
whether it is our right to enjoy the liberties that we experience today,
or the freedom from sin
that was achieved by Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross,
some two thousand years ago.
Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
help us to experience your peace in body and mind.
And as we remember the theatre of war,
may we also focus on working for a world where your peace reigns.
This we ask in Jesus’ precious name.
Amen.
Questions
- How can we best remember the sacrifices of those who have died (and continue to do so), in the theatre of war, yet still work for peace and reconciliation?
- The poppy has become the universal symbol for recognising the contributions of those who have taken part in wars and conflicts. Are people made to feel guilty if they do not wear them?
Action
Write your own prayer or a poem that speaks about conflict and how we perceive or remember it. Try to put the onus on reconciliation and transformation, so that by learning the lessons of the past, we avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Young People
It is often said that there is a dearth of intergenerational engagement in church and society. Using the Second World War as a hook, young people might speak to older members in their church about their experiences of living through such conflicts, and how their faith helped them face these challenges.
Richard Reddie is a writer and researcher. His latest book, Martin Luther King Jr: History Maker is published by Lion Hudson. He worships at St James Church (CofE), West Streatham, London.
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