The thing uppermost in my mind as I approach Remembrance Sunday this year is the war in Israel and Gaza.  I puzzle over what contribution I can make from here, sitting in my kitchen in Amington, to participate or engage in any way.    What of the sermon? I looked at the set readings for today but they yielded little inspiration.  The war in the Middle East continued to loom large in my mind, so I put it on the back burner to simmer away.  I wondered what I could bring to Remembrance Sunday myself.  Unlike some, I am a war baby, so I missed the war.  I’ve never had direct experience of military life, what could I say?  A number of you here today have served in the Second War, the Korean War, in Afghanistan, perhaps in the Balkans, Northern Ireland.  Or, like the son of a friend, who served largely in reconstruction of places affected by war.  I do know a bit about the Second War from my parents, both Canadians who served in Europe, my Dad as an engineer near the “Bridge too far” site, my mother close to the battle lines as a nurse in field dressing stations in Holland and Belgium.  I am very grateful for the time and sacrifice of all those who served, and it’s an honour, and humbling, to be able to stand in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  How could I, not in the military, just a civilian, do anything in the face of the real war happening in my time, the war between Israel and Hamas, or the war in Ukraine, relegated to the inside pages these days, but still raging?

I turned to the passage in John’s Gospel which has that verse much quoted at this time of year: “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  I’m not sure how big an issue the possibility of being killed on the battle field was as people sign up, maybe they just hoped they’d be one of the lucky ones and it wouldn’t come to that, maybe muttering a prayer under their breath, “Please God, I’d like to go home after the war,” or maybe they faced it straight on as a possibility.  Whatever, they joined, were trained, and went to serve wherever they were posted. 

In this passage, Jesus also gives us all, military personnel and civilians alike, this command in v. 13: “Love each other as I have loved you,” and he goes on in v.14:  “You are my friends if you do what I command”.  As I reflected on the theme of these verses, I thought of the Old Testament verse from Micah 6:8 when Micah, an Old Testament prophet tells the people what the Lord requires of them: “Act justly and love mercy and to walk humble with your God.”   And it seemed to me that here was the answer for us all, whether in the thick of battle or not: we are to love one another as Jesus loves us, follow his example, to act justly, love mercy and walk with the Lord. 

If we are at home, part of the supporting cast if you like, we can do as much as we can to live a life of love, justice and mercy where we are, so we can live as commendable a life as we can, creating a corner of the world where the ways of the Lord are the way we live.  But it’s our choice.  Joshua in the Old Testament said to his people, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”  He reminds the people that it won’t be an easy way, but he’s already declared before them that as for he and his family, they will serve the way of the Lord. 

If we are serving in the military, yes, there are orders to be followed.  But how that is done is up to each serviceman.  They can obey orders in a way that builds up and encourages others or they can obey by just doing the bare minimum, dragging their feet, grumbling. 

And it struck me.  When it comes to serving the Lord, doing things the Lord’s way, it doesn’t matter where we are, whether we are civilians or military, coping with a family or being on the front line.  We all have choices about the way we do things, sometimes our circumstances dictate what we must do – whether it’s the demands of a commanding officer or a hungry family at supper time – we have a duty to do and we can choose how we do it, do we do it in an way that supports those around us, or does it make for discontent and arguments?  Do we carry out the things in our lives with God’s strength and guidance, or do we try to go it alone?  Are we just and merciful in our actions?  That often means being well trained and/or educated at what we are doing, and then doing it as well and efficiently as we can. 

I am so grateful for the people who served Great Britain in the military in wars past.   This year the Royal British Legion focuses on service in the Korean War seventy years ago, in National Service which ended sixty years ago, and on the Windrush people, many of whom served during WWll, and returned to the UK seventy five years ago this year.  And I think of all the people left behind at home to continue supporting the war effort, and then when war was ended, the rebuilding of many countries’ economies.  The Christians among them continued to serve God, wherever they were, doing their best to love one another as Christ loved them, following Jesus’ ways, acting justly, loving mercy and walking with the Lord.  It was a valuable way of life then, and it continues to be now.  It gives us a way to respond to current conflicts, whatever our involvement.  And of course prayer underpins all of that, whether we can kneel by our beds each night, or to send arrow prayers to heaven in the instant of a challenge.  Wherever we are and whatever we do, we can choose to act as justly and mercifully as we can.  Joshua was right to challenge the people, it’s not the easy path, but it is the one which will ensure our corner of the world will be as just, merciful and Godly a place as it can be, and it means the contribution of us all goes to the building of a  peaceful world.  Everyone at war desires a peaceful world after all.

Amen.