We Honour Them With Peace - Armistice Day (John 15.7-17)
We come here today standing in our ancestor’s shoes. We gather like we do every year to remember the sacrifice paid by those who have died to protect us. We don’t just remember today those who died in the first world war and the second world war, but those who have died as a result of all human conflict past and present. We remember that war, in whatever form, however just, is always a tragedy. We remember those who are our enemies, and also those who are innocent, who have died or whose lives have been forever changed by the consequences of war. Christians believe that armed conflict should be the last option, after all other efforts have been made to reconcile with each other. We also believe that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Jesus calls us to be part of his love for us, he calls us friends. Abiding in God’s love is difficult, and it is very hard to travel the path of peace, as Jesus knew. He was constantly in conflict with the au...