Yesterday I preached a Remembrance Day sermon based on the Gospel passage from Mark 12: 38-44.  This is the well-known passage of the Widow’s offering in which Jesus commends a poor widow for giving so much out of her poverty:

‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

The widow gave all that see had.  The widow’s offering – sometimes called the widow’s mite, represents for us today those who made the supreme sacrifice for Canada in war. The served and died for their country.  They gave everything that they had - their lives for their country - for their comrades - for their loved ones and all others who remained at home.  We give thanks today for their sacrifice.  Unfortunately, the sacrifice continues, and men and women are still called to serving and dying for their countries.  The Prince of Peace was born in Bethlehem, but peace does not yet reign.  We also remember those who serve and suffer because of the conflict – the effect can continue after they return home – through the effects of combat - both physical and psychological.  Their sacrifice continues.  Our response can be to honour that sacrifice and ensure that they are not forgotten.  But it can also be that we pray that peace will reign.  That war will no longer be carried out - that we will study war no more. 

Humankind does not seem capable of making this happen.  It can only happen through the grace of God.  We pray that some day it will be so.  Let us end with the prayer for the Armed forces and the prayer for peace from the B.A.S. 

The prayer for the armed forces:

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad.  Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

The prayer for Peace:

O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace.  Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts, through your son Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Amen