Sermon for Remembrance 2023

Isaiah chapter 55 verses 6 to the end

Read by the Town Mayor of Banbury,

Cllr Fiaz Ahmed

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

The Reader says:  This is the word of the Lord.

All respond: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Our reading from the book of Isaiah speaks of how great a blessing forgiveness is. Before forgiveness there is only anger, and pain, and the cycle of one-upmanship between enemies that never ends. Yet with forgiveness comes understanding, kindness, generosity and hope. Through forgiveness we have the potential for growth in all walks and ways of life. It’s like the poppy fields that sprung up after the First World War. The soil is torn up by the destruction of war, the cycle of devastation allows nothing the chance to grow. Yet once it stops and the soil is no longer being ravaged but is allowed to feel the warmth of the sun upon it, the poppies begin to grow in abundance.

‘For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.’

There is growth and the potential for more when forgiveness is allowed to break in. Our reading might make forgiveness sound so easy, and I believe for God it is, yet for us forgiveness is very far from easy. In fact, true forgiveness is something of a miracle. When we are hurt by someone we seek justice, which is fair, but we only feel justified if we have received what we believe is right and fair. Yet what if the other party is caused pain by what we believe is justified? Do we think they will just accept it? Imperfect human justice often creates more pain and injustice.

Historians have argued that the cause of the Second World War was due to the actions against Germany after the First World War. By seeking justice that the allies felt justified in doing, resulted in the German people being left in difficult economic circumstances. This than lead to anger, pain and resentment, which left the people of Germany vulnerable to the evils of facism.

Many have wondered if things had of been different after the First World War, whether we would have had the Second? This is something we’ll never know, but today is a day we remember what happened in our past so that we can learn not to make the same mistakes in the future. Forgiveness is not just accepting the wrong that has been done, it is about facing up to the wrong and repenting of it. These things take a great amount of vulnerability from both sides and the grace to allow the space for each side to acknowledge the wrong. We have to create the fertile ground for forgiveness to grow.

Through this service we are giving thanks to all those who sacrificed their lives so that we might be free. Through music, readings and prayer, by being present here today and by being part of the parade, we are saying thank you for the sacrifices that were made on our behalf. But what would be the point if our freedom came without forgiveness? 

When I think of those who have died due to war, I have that image in my mind of the battle field in the depths of winter and soldiers from both sides lying there. Then they start waking up and getting up and as they realise that they no longer need to fight, they begin greeting each other, both allies and enemies greet each other as brothers. 

Today we are seeing the pain and suffering of war as it rages in Gaza. This conflict is closely linked to the turmoil and aftermath of both world wars, and especially the actions of our own state. The pain and suffering of all involved has gone on and on in a cycle that never seems to end. Only with forgiveness can the cycle come to an end. However forgiveness may not always feel like justice and yet neither are they opposites. True forgiveness requires a naming and ownership of wrong doing. It’s not a simple write off or a one off decision. It’s a process that takes time, commitment, and continual recommitment. Space must be created for it, and still, even when the space for forgiveness has been created, not everyone is willing to step forward and acknowledge their wrong doing and repent. Even so it is important to keep trying, to keep looking for the space. As a Christian this is one of things I pray for, the miracle of this space emerging. Forgiveness can make us feel as if we are torn in two, but without it the ground and the soil will keep on churning, the seeds will never have a chance to grow. On this day as we look at the poppies before us, let us hope for an end of the ravages of war that tear our world apart in so many ways, let us hope for forgiveness so that we may see the first shoots of peace in our world.

Amen.