Padre David C Haslem, a United Reformed Church minister serving within the Royal Air Force, builds upon his 2023 reflection entitled ‘Lest We Forget’ for Remembrance 2024:
As we prepare to gather at places of memorial and remembrance throughout our country, I cannot help but think of the seemingly deeper, more difficult situations that we face in the world right now.
The war in Ukraine continues with hundreds of thousands of lives lost to the violence and destruction of war. Communities, villages, towns, and conurbations lay in ruins, dust and debris. Industries and economies of the West (eg Germany) are failing. Our whole country counts the cost of heating homes and energy use as we face another winter where failed sanctions prevent the flow of oil direct to our shores. What is happening in Ukraine impacts all our lives.
NATO, the vision of an organisation formed to bring security and peace to its western member states, now continues in exerting its control beyond its borders, threatening and delivering violence and conflict well beyond its members’ shores or aligning itself politically to do so.
The state of Israel continues its strikes not only in Gaza but now in Lebanon with conflict extending out to Iran, seemingly enabled by the West through provision of arms, weapons and joint operations and co-operation.
I sense that Western leaders are threatened by the success of BRICS (an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates) and Chinas’ Belt and Road initiatives, as our medias begin to report, giving gravitational shifts of our consciousness on issues in Far East and Asia in support of new conflicts.
To sum up, it feels like we are facing unstable times as far as world politics go. Alongside the wars and conflicts present with us.
A call for the church
I think the Church, the United Reformed Church, our church to which we belong to, can and has something very powerful to witness to in today’s world. It is the Gospel message of God’s purpose for the world, for us all. It’s a message that can reach into the heart of these issues and expose what’s going on but more so that new ways can be brought forward.
The message we have lies in the calling of God, the message of the gift of Jesus, his coming, life and witness. It speaks of the cross where life was sacrificed, for love, for the greater good, for all humanity. It’s a message of deep love, concern, and of what abundance looks like for all, no matter creed, colour, religion etc. This message breaks across the barriers that divide us, the check points of acceptance or rejection.
This Gospel message may seem idealistic, visionary, other worldly etc, but it was and still is of Jesus calling to us in following him. It opens our eyes to see the depth of humanity in the other, that includes our enemies.
A prayer for Remembrance
God who is beyond the conceiving and imaginations of my mind, who is beyond the scheming plots which lead to war and conflict, enter our minds, our consciousness, our lives helping us to recognise you love and purpose is for all.
Help us see a Godly intention that all can thrive, enjoy, and even celebrate life and living. May we see you in all human life.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are caught up in conflict, violence, and war. For all who suffer unimaginable pain, torment and injury of body, mind or spirit.
We pray for those who grieve, those suffering through what they have witnessed and been present to. For communities, families, friends torn apart. Refugees, those constantly on the move, seeking safely, food, water and shelter.
We pray for our armed forces, for men and women who train for war in the hope of preserving peace. And where peace fails, we remember them as they are called by duty to deliver effects through violent action. We pray for our adversaries remembering their humanity and their needs.
We pray for political leadership of nations. That they may no be so full of self-righteous opinion but have grace to listen, empathetically, to their opponents. Understand a world of that needs to be fair and just over self-interests. Have a mindset of seeking justice and working toward cooperation with those they may disagree.
We remember those who have died in wars and conflict down through the years, who gave their lives in hope of a better.
May we honour them through our actions today.