SPIRITUAL REFLEXION FOR NOVEMBER – REMEMBRANCE DAY

Remembrance Day was always a special day when I was growing up. My family were forever reminding us of the great sacrifices that our military made in order to keep our country safe and to bring an end to the conflict and restore peace for all. It was a very special day for me…

Then in 1997, I had the opportunity to go to France. We toured that beautiful country for seven days. My  most memorable moment was when we visited one of the graves where our Canadian military were buried.  I even found the grave of one of my ancestors. I can’t begin to explain what an emotional experience that was for me. Suffice it is to say that Remembrance Day took on a much greater importance to me. These  men and women laid down their lives for us so that we could be free and safe. When they left home to go  to battle, they knew that they may never again see their country or their families. And yet they went.

Standing looking at their graves, I was overcome with emotion and gratitude for the gift of freedom that  they gave to us.

What can we do the ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten ? Certainly, honoring their memories on  November 11 is one way of honoring their memory. Another way is to do all that we can to help one  another whenever we can. In our work as Vincentians, we will, hopefully, never be asked to give up our live for the good of those we are called to serve but we honor not only our God in rendering service and assistance to those in need but we honor those who died so that we can live in peace. We must always  strive to be willing to make whatever sacrifice is needed to serve His poor. If we do all we can to love and serve God and one another then our military will not have died in vain. Let us remember them by treating those we serve with the same love and compassion that they and our God treat us.

Most of us are familiar with the poem Flanders Field but I would like to close with another poem that is not know quite as well. It is called” The Spires of Oxford”

I saw the spires of Oxford as I was passing by,
The gray spires of Oxford against the pearl-gray sky
My heart went with the Oxford men who went abroad to die.
The years go fast in Oxford, the golden years and gay
The hoary Colleges looked down on careless boys at play.
But when the bugles sounded war they put their games away.
They left the peaceful river the cricket, field the quad.
The shaven lawns of Oxford to seek a bloody sod.
They gave their merry youth away for country and for God.
God rest you merry gentlemen who laid your good lives down.
Who took the Khake and the gun instead of cap and gown.
God bring you to a fairer place that Oxford town.

May we always honor their memories by continuing to serve our God, those in need and one another with love, respect, justice and joy.

Questions:
What meaning does Remembrance Day have for you?
How is their sacrifice similar to what Jesus did for us?
What sacrifices do we make to serve His poor?

Maureen MacIssac
Spirituality Committee

http://www.ssvp.ca/fichiers/File/Spirituality/2013-11-E.pdf