Memorial Day 2022

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour. When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:5-17

I grew up a child of a Navy chaplain, and was born while my Dad was serving stateside after returning from Korea. We spent several seasons on Camp LeJeune during the height of the Vietnam war. Veterans and service personnel are always thinking of those who didn't make it home, of their comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Today we honor those who served and did not come home. No matter our political leaning, no matter how we think or believe, we can give thanks for those who lived and died for others.

Wondrous Creator, you made us in your image

yet we humans are flawed images of your perfection

we take up sides and divide against others

and we send our children into harm's way.

Help us to honor those who have sacrificed

by living as servants of all of humanity

as those who seek peace and reconciliation

and those who bear the sorrows of our world. Amen.