Therefore, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with
perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus as the
pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has
taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. -
Hebrews 12:1-2
This year, the celebration of Pentecost
falls on Memorial Day weekend. This unusual alignment of these two
days of remembrance has spurred me to do some thinking about the
relationship between Memorial Day and Pentecost. The former is
traditionally a celebration in
remembrance of those who have given their lives in military service,
while the latter commemorates the in-pouring of God's Spirit into the
world. Many Christians will celebrate these two days side by side,
without any sense of contradiction.
I cannot do that. As a Quaker, I
believe that when
Jesus Christ disarmed his disciples in Gethsemane, he disarmed the
Church. I believe that when
Jesus died on the cross, he set an example for those who would
follow him - taking on suffering rather than inflicting it, blessing
those who curse us. As a follower of the Crucified Savior, I must
remember the martyrs - those who sacrificed their own lives,
possesssions and comfort in order to demonstrate God's love to a
world in pain. This Memorial Day, I will remember the faithful
servants who have gone before, joining Jesus in blazing the trail
that I now walk.
I will remember the way that so many
have laid down their own privilege and comfort to serve the poor and
the lost. And I will remember how I was one of those lost ones. I
will give thanks for the grace these servants of God showed, loving
me in spite of all the ways I pushed them away.
Who are the witnesses that call you
forward?
3 comments:
I call forward Deborah Ferbrache, Ed Kirk, Richard Hall, and Archie Newlin as witnesses.
I think of my father who did not grow up with any pacifists around him, but who read the scriptures and believed that you could not follow Jesus and kill another person. When he was called for WWII, he did not know what would happen to him, but he knew he wouldn't go. He thought they might take him out and shoot him. In the end, they didn't want him because of his vision problem due to an eye he had lost in a firecracker accident, but he was prepared to die rather than to be a soldier.
He lived a faithful life until his death 31 years ago, and he has been an example for me.
"In honor of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer." (this is in the Presidential Memorial Day proclamation every year)
I think we can celebrate Memorial Day. Surely we feel a call to pray for permanent peace.
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