November 13th

Remembrance Day Reflection

This week is Remembrance Day.  As Canadians, we are encouraged remember those who lost their lives in the brutality of war. As Mennonites, we are committed to peace, justice and nonresistance. The Confession of Faith affirms nonparticipation in war as a demonstration of the love of Jesus in the world. “Led by the Spirit… we witness to all people that violence is not the will of God.”
 
I find this so complex. In my family, my dad served in the Canadian Navy during peace time and began his career as a power engineer. My grandfather enlisted in the Canadian Army when he was sixteen and served in WWII. I was named after my uncle, who was named after his uncle, my grandfather’s older brother, who was killed in combat in WWII. As a pacifist and an opponent of war, I am careful not to dishonour these men and others, who believed in their calling to serve in the armed forces. When we are encouraged to support our troops, I am torn. My heart goes out to those who choose to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others. If you want to see me cry, show me a video of a soldier returning safely to their family. But I do not support the systems of our world that compel these women and men to serve. I’ve been to multiple baseball games in the US where they have marched new recruits onto the field, glorifying the government’s commitment to war and willingness to sacrifice the lives of these young people for their “freedom.” I weep as the crowd roars.
 
To remember must not be to glorify war. When we use words like “hero” and “honour” and “sacrifice” we equate war with salvation, exalt our victories, demonize the other side and minimize the loss of life of our “enemies”. To remember is to say that war is evil. To remember is to mourn those who have lost their lives, and to mourn families who have lost daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. To remember is to suffer with those who have suffered and continue to suffer the consequences of war. To remember is to challenge systems that understand violence and killing as a justified means to an end.
 
To remember is to work for peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” To remember is to commit ourselves to peace work through the church and supporting peacebuilding organizations like MCC “that heal trauma, that foster justice, that teach nonviolent conflict resolution, that promote reconciliation, and that prevent war.” A commitment to nonviolence and love of our enemy is what our world needs. To remember is to follow the example of peacemakers and conscientious objectors. To remember is to become people of God's peace, and trust that peace will one day end all war. As a Mennonite Church, to remember is to affirm that our primary identity is as followers of Jesus, Champion of Peace, not the as citizen of Canada or any other power of this world.
 
May God’s peace bring an end to war, violence and suffering in the world.