Pastor Sean DeLawder
Trinity United Church of Christ
(11/1) It has become a tradition at Trinity United Church of Christ, that each year we honor our veterans, both living and deceased by hosting a community worship service. We do this as a display of gratitude to the women and men who bravely served our country; some served
voluntarily and others served because of our many drafts, had no choice. We also lift up and honor the families of our service men and women, for we are well aware that they sacrifice and serve our country as well.
As I reflect on this Veteran’s Day Service, and the services in the past, as a pastor it is my prayer that one day we will no longer add to the names on the veteran rolls. It is my prayer that one day, God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. As human beings, it is inevitable that there will be misunderstandings, disagreements and
conflicts. But the dream of solving our disagreements with peaceful resolutions is one that weighs on my heart. Will there come a day when countries will no longer need military backing to protect their land and their citizens? It certainly seems to be a far off dream. But dreams are what our hopes are built upon, and yes, sometimes dreams do come true.
As Christians we follow the teachings of Jesus and are also guided by the sacred books found in the Bible. If you have read at least some of the bible you know that there are many accounts of wars and violence. But there are also many examples that guide us away from violence and towards peaceful solutions through love as God freely and abundantly
loves us.
What I am most guided by and so often turn to when I find myself in difficult situations is the gospel passage from Matthew 22:35-40 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." We are to be guided by love. We are to treat all people with love because all people, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they believe are our neighbor. We love because
God loves us and when we treat people with love many conflicts can either be resolved or at least avoided. When there are no conflicts or avoided conflicts, then there is no reason for war. As we are reminded in Proverbs 16:32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
Now I am well aware that this is easier said than done. As I said previously, we are all human beings and so it is in our nature to be wary with strangers. It is in our nature to want to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our belongings. It is how we survived throughout eons. But Jesus came to show us a new way to live. Jesus came to remind us that all
that we have and all that we are did not come by our own doing, but that is came and it continues to come from God. God blesses us with what we need and Jesus reminds us that there is enough to share with all. To that point, do not worry - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is
not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?" (Matthew 6:25-34).
To follow these scriptures we must rely on our faith. But relying on our faith is much more than just professing what we believe. Unless we are able to demonstrate our faith by our actions, all we have are just meaningless words. Unless we can truly not worry and rely and trust in God for our for our needs then we are not demonstrating our faith.
Unless we can truly love our neighbor as our self and pray for our enemies, then we are not demonstrating our faith. In the letter of James we are told, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and
eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith." (James 2:14-18).
So as we live in a world of divineness and conflict may we live together in Christian love and stay strong in our faith and have hope for a future world of peace, love and resolution.
Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 East Main Street, Thurmont invites all Veterans and the general public to their Veteran’s Day celebration and luncheon on Sunday, November 10 at 11 a.m. This service recognizes all living veterans as well as deceased veterans. The Thurmont Amvets Honor Guard and Color Guard, the Thurmont American Legion, and Sheriff
Chuck Jenkins will be in attendance as well as special music provided by Ret. Rev. Sherman Mason. Guest speaker, the Retired Navy Chaplain Dale Williams will be bringing the message with Rev. Sean DeLawder, Pastor of Trinity. assisting with the service.
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