Scripture:‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. (John 5.13)Reflection:These words of Jesus tie together his core message – that love is about giving. Life is God’s gift to us and with it the power and responsibility to make it our gift of love to others. In the week of Remembrance Day we focus on gratitude for those who gave their lives in time of war, but it is also a prompt to commit ourselves to the call to love – and to love not only our friends but also the enemies of love.Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor, wrote this in 1937:“Love asks nothing in return, but seeks those who need it. And who needs our love more than those who are consumed with hatred and are utterly devoid of love?”His relentlessly opposition to the Nazis led to his death by hanging in a concentration camp on 9 April 1945.David Harmsworth
Scripture:Jesus said:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)Reflection:These statements, known as the Beatitudes, offered comfort, and still offer comfort, to people in difficulty, grief and distress, the promise of a future end to their suffering.They offered encouragement and still offer encouragement to those who are living out the values of mercy, peace-making, right living, who through their actions bring about the relief of others’ suffering.The Beatitudes describe the values of the kingdom of God, past, present and hoped for, a glimpse of the kingdom to come.We are approaching All Saints Day, All Souls Day and Remembrance Sunday; November is a time of remembering and thanksgiving. We are reminded of the saints and martyrs of the past and present; of the people we have known, loved and see no more; and of those who have lost their lives in war; people whose earthly lives had hallmarks of blessing. Blessed are we too, when our lives reflect God’s kingdom.Sarah Emanuel
