Remembrance Sunday 2012
Today the Sea of Galilee is an incredibly beautiful and seemingly peaceful place. It is set in the middle of wonderful countryside, with hills surrounding. It is a place where you sense little has changed from the time of Jesus. But of course, it has.
The water level has dropped massively for a start as water has become such an important resource. In addition we are also reminded of the all too prominent threat of conflict. Many times the areas surrounding the Sea have become battle grounds. Today we are all aware of the problems in Syria boiling over separated from the Sea of Galilee only by the hills.
In our gospel today (Mark 1:14-20) we have heard of a conflict in a different time. John the Baptist has been arrested, and Jesus has arrived in Galilee – it is time for Jesus to repeat the message of John – ‘The kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.’
And as he begins his ministry, he calls his first disciples to join in the work. Simon and Andrew were two brothers working, as many others did, as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. We don’t know what they knew of Jesus before this but what we’re told is that Jesus simply said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people’.
And we’re told they immediately left their nets and followed him. A little further on James and John were also called, and they too left their nets and followed him. It must have been an incredible scene – men doing their daily work asked to give up that work and risk the uncertainties of life with this preacher…
Perhaps they knew more of what Jesus was asking, perhaps we’re only told part of the story, or perhaps and more likely it was the power of Jesus that persuaded them to follow him. And there is another part to this story – these fishermen may not have travelled very far other than around the Sea of Galilee itself, and now they would journey to Jerusalem, and their lives would be transformed.
Now, they would give up the life of a fisherman – though they worked in the idyllic setting of the Sea of Galilee, they would sometimes face great storms, they would work long hours and the work would often be tough. As they gave that up they would face new challenges, and new storms.
From a life largely untainted by the Roman rule, or even the Jewish authorities, they would move to a position of conflict with these people – they would move to a position where they would be part of a group that was considered to be dangerous, threatening the authority of those ruling classes.
They were men who sometimes blindly but with faith and confidence in Jesus, went where they were called to go. Through all kinds of situations with Jesus they must have all of the emotions that any person would have. They must have felt the pain of being away from families and friends, they must have known the concerns of not earning a living, they must have known the fear of challenging powerful people…
One of the things we so often forget as we read biblical accounts is that these were real people, with real emotions, with real families and pressures and problems and fears.
But what led them on was this incredible confidence in Jesus. They would follow him wherever he would lead. Certainly there were doubts – we look at the disciples after the crucifixion of Jesus and they are afraid and hiding. Their doubts must have been huge at this point as they saw their leader killed. But later they meet the risen Jesus, and they know their confidence had not been misplaced – they know that Jesus’ teaching is teaching that will last and they know that risen from the dead, he had conquered death not just for himself but for all who believe in him.
They were led to do greater things, inspired by the risen Jesus. They were compelled to speak of the marvellous things they had heard and seen. They were ready to speak of new life and even a new world transformed by the power of Jesus.
As they left the peace and tranquillity of life in Galilee, they entered that world of pain and conflict – that world that demanded that they made choices between following good and evil, or doing right or wrong, or doing nothing.
Today on this Remembrance Sunday we too are faced with a world with many situations of conflict. It’s not just the area around the Sea of Galilee that has the outward appearance of beauty and peace, yet conflict so close by. It is a situation that is mirrored in many places. And today, even this day, people are going out and fighting – some will be injured, some may die.
But, as we remember, we do more than reflect on the past, or even just the present; in remembering we are also praying for something better, for a more peaceful world, a world where people don’t need to go and fight for whatever cause, good or bad; a world where the compelling emotions are not hate or greed, or fear or suspicion, or loneliness or lack of hope but of peace, of love…
We have heard so many stories of people in the First World War, (the war to end all wars !) and the Second World War of how people hoped that these wars, brutal though they were, would indeed end all wars. And today we still wait for that to happen. Today we can mention many wars since, and, as I said, people who are going out risking their lives even today.
But that hope and that message of peace and love must never be lost. As the disciples answered the call of Jesus, they went into the unknown, but they went believing that they would be involved in something that would transform the world – and they were. The life and ministry of Jesus continues to be the inspiration and hope for the world today.
When Jesus ascended to heaven after the resurrection, he didn’t leave the world just to get on and do its own thing – he left the power of the Holy Spirit, filling people to do his work. He left that inspiration that would fill people with his power until the end of time.
He left people through generations who were willing to speak of peace and hope even in the middle of some of the darkest situations in history… Today as we remember we give thanks for those who have made such huge sacrifices over the years, and we remember those who, even today are doing the same. We pray for them, we pray that they will be filled with a sense of hope and a sense of peace, and we pray for leaders of nations everywhere that they too may know and see the peace that Jesus offers, and be inspired to work for that peace everywhere.
In a sometimes dark world the light of Christ still shines brightly, and that light will shine in the middle of any darkness… There is the famous quote found engraved on the wall of a second world war concentration camp which said, “I believe in the sun when it isn’t shining, I believe in love even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God even when He's silent.”
God is not silent in the world today, he is with us and calling us to work for peace for justice and to offer hope and above all, love… May we be inspired as those early disciples were to follow the call of Jesus, knowing that he will never abandon us and will lead us, as the Book of Revelation says, into a glorious new kingdom where war and pain and mourning and suffering and tears will be no more, just life… everlasting. AMEN
The water level has dropped massively for a start as water has become such an important resource. In addition we are also reminded of the all too prominent threat of conflict. Many times the areas surrounding the Sea have become battle grounds. Today we are all aware of the problems in Syria boiling over separated from the Sea of Galilee only by the hills.
In our gospel today (Mark 1:14-20) we have heard of a conflict in a different time. John the Baptist has been arrested, and Jesus has arrived in Galilee – it is time for Jesus to repeat the message of John – ‘The kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.’
And as he begins his ministry, he calls his first disciples to join in the work. Simon and Andrew were two brothers working, as many others did, as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. We don’t know what they knew of Jesus before this but what we’re told is that Jesus simply said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people’.
And we’re told they immediately left their nets and followed him. A little further on James and John were also called, and they too left their nets and followed him. It must have been an incredible scene – men doing their daily work asked to give up that work and risk the uncertainties of life with this preacher…
Perhaps they knew more of what Jesus was asking, perhaps we’re only told part of the story, or perhaps and more likely it was the power of Jesus that persuaded them to follow him. And there is another part to this story – these fishermen may not have travelled very far other than around the Sea of Galilee itself, and now they would journey to Jerusalem, and their lives would be transformed.
Now, they would give up the life of a fisherman – though they worked in the idyllic setting of the Sea of Galilee, they would sometimes face great storms, they would work long hours and the work would often be tough. As they gave that up they would face new challenges, and new storms.
From a life largely untainted by the Roman rule, or even the Jewish authorities, they would move to a position of conflict with these people – they would move to a position where they would be part of a group that was considered to be dangerous, threatening the authority of those ruling classes.
They were men who sometimes blindly but with faith and confidence in Jesus, went where they were called to go. Through all kinds of situations with Jesus they must have all of the emotions that any person would have. They must have felt the pain of being away from families and friends, they must have known the concerns of not earning a living, they must have known the fear of challenging powerful people…
One of the things we so often forget as we read biblical accounts is that these were real people, with real emotions, with real families and pressures and problems and fears.
But what led them on was this incredible confidence in Jesus. They would follow him wherever he would lead. Certainly there were doubts – we look at the disciples after the crucifixion of Jesus and they are afraid and hiding. Their doubts must have been huge at this point as they saw their leader killed. But later they meet the risen Jesus, and they know their confidence had not been misplaced – they know that Jesus’ teaching is teaching that will last and they know that risen from the dead, he had conquered death not just for himself but for all who believe in him.
They were led to do greater things, inspired by the risen Jesus. They were compelled to speak of the marvellous things they had heard and seen. They were ready to speak of new life and even a new world transformed by the power of Jesus.
As they left the peace and tranquillity of life in Galilee, they entered that world of pain and conflict – that world that demanded that they made choices between following good and evil, or doing right or wrong, or doing nothing.
Today on this Remembrance Sunday we too are faced with a world with many situations of conflict. It’s not just the area around the Sea of Galilee that has the outward appearance of beauty and peace, yet conflict so close by. It is a situation that is mirrored in many places. And today, even this day, people are going out and fighting – some will be injured, some may die.
But, as we remember, we do more than reflect on the past, or even just the present; in remembering we are also praying for something better, for a more peaceful world, a world where people don’t need to go and fight for whatever cause, good or bad; a world where the compelling emotions are not hate or greed, or fear or suspicion, or loneliness or lack of hope but of peace, of love…
We have heard so many stories of people in the First World War, (the war to end all wars !) and the Second World War of how people hoped that these wars, brutal though they were, would indeed end all wars. And today we still wait for that to happen. Today we can mention many wars since, and, as I said, people who are going out risking their lives even today.
But that hope and that message of peace and love must never be lost. As the disciples answered the call of Jesus, they went into the unknown, but they went believing that they would be involved in something that would transform the world – and they were. The life and ministry of Jesus continues to be the inspiration and hope for the world today.
When Jesus ascended to heaven after the resurrection, he didn’t leave the world just to get on and do its own thing – he left the power of the Holy Spirit, filling people to do his work. He left that inspiration that would fill people with his power until the end of time.
He left people through generations who were willing to speak of peace and hope even in the middle of some of the darkest situations in history… Today as we remember we give thanks for those who have made such huge sacrifices over the years, and we remember those who, even today are doing the same. We pray for them, we pray that they will be filled with a sense of hope and a sense of peace, and we pray for leaders of nations everywhere that they too may know and see the peace that Jesus offers, and be inspired to work for that peace everywhere.
In a sometimes dark world the light of Christ still shines brightly, and that light will shine in the middle of any darkness… There is the famous quote found engraved on the wall of a second world war concentration camp which said, “I believe in the sun when it isn’t shining, I believe in love even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God even when He's silent.”
God is not silent in the world today, he is with us and calling us to work for peace for justice and to offer hope and above all, love… May we be inspired as those early disciples were to follow the call of Jesus, knowing that he will never abandon us and will lead us, as the Book of Revelation says, into a glorious new kingdom where war and pain and mourning and suffering and tears will be no more, just life… everlasting. AMEN
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