Remembrance Sunday

Readings: Job 19v23-27a; Psalm 17v1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2v1-5&13-end; Luke 20v27-38.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: The psalm is a prayer of complaint to God asking for justice. For even though he has done no wrong, the psalmist is under attack from enemies who are trying to kill him. I believe that this kind of prayer is sometimes answered by people that God prompts to step up in this world in order to overcome evil, fight against injustice and defend the vulnerable. This is an important idea, as we call to mind the men and women who lay down their lives to protect, defend and serve others during times of peace-keeping, defence and war. For we have a duty to remember their giving of themselves as they strive to overcome the injustice and evil at work in the world.

For as we hear in the letter to the Thessalonians, evil continues to hold power here on earth until the day of the Lord arrives. This power includes telling lies to us and trying to divert us away from God because the evil one wants us to lose our trust, faith and hope in God. However, as we hear in the letter, no matter what the evil one says or does, we are to keep in mind that we are loved by God, and have been chosen by God to do good work, and are called to stay true to the good news we have been given, until the day of the Lord comes.

For when that day comes, everything will change. For as we hear from Job, he knows that his Redeemer lives and will one day stand on the earth. Job also believes that after he dies, he will be resurrected to a place where he will see God face to face.

This faith in an afterlife is what is being challenged in Luke. For some of God’s holy people did not believe in the resurrection to eternal life and came to ask Jesus about it. In response to their challenge, Jesus taught them that there is an afterlife, a life that is very different to the one we live here now on earth.

This is the afterlife that I believe will be offered to all those who have served God by working to overcome the injustice and evil at work in the world. For they are a people who are loved by God, because they were chosen by God to do good work and live lives in line with the good news they were given. A people that God prompted to step up in this world in order to overcome evil, fight against injustice and defend the vulnerable. A people I believe will be resurrected to a place where they will see God face to face. In a place that is very different to the one we live here now on earth.

Let us Pray: Almighty Father, the God of peace. We thank you for your beloved son Jesus, who is the king of all, who came to proclaim your kingdom. Look with compassion on your world. Cast out the sin and evil that divides and tears apart the world. Restore the broken to wholeness of life by teaching, guiding and governing the leaders of your world. Pour out your healing power on people and nations so that we all draw together under your just and gentle rule. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.