This weekend is a long one according to the calendar. Our country will celebrate Memorial Day to honor those who sacrificed their lives in service of our nation. What originally began as a day honoring those who had died in The Civil War sadly has been expanded as the number of the fallen has continued to grow through many other conflicts and wars. Today we offer prayers and blessings to those families who have been touched by the death of a member of our military knowing the loss of a son or daughter, husband or wife and father or mother forever changes the life of the family and of every community.
As a young child I don’t remember putting that great of thought into the celebration of Memorial Day. It was only during my years in the Marine Corps where I began to understand the true impact and the reason behind the day. I remember one day listening to a discussion of two older Marines as they recounted their time serving in Viet Nam and the quietness of their conversations as they began to talk about their fellow Marines who had died and in their conversation was hanging in the air was something I could not truly understand. It was as I remembered these conversations later in life I began to realized these “older Marines” were in their early 30’s and the friends they were speaking about were young men in their teens and early 20’s. And perhaps this was what I could not understand, the youth and life sacrificed and lost.
It is this perspective that we place into our hearts as we celebrate this weekend. Because while we remember those who have died we also place our hope in a future that is free from these tragedies and violence against our brothers and sisters, families and friends. The Christian hope is always found in the cross where God confronts evil and death with the gift of love and hope.
Cardinal Robert Sarah in his book “The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise” reaffirms this hope and love,” I think but it is always necessary to cry out to God. It is good to ask for help and aid from heaven… when I travel in countries that are going through violent, profound crises, I observed how much prayer can help those who no longer have anything. Silence was the last trench that no one could enter, the only room in which to remain in peace… silence arms us with patience. Silence in God restores our courage… the poison of war comes to an end in the silence of prayer, in the silence of trust, in the silence of hope. At the heart of all the barbarities, it is necessary to plant the mystery of the Cross.” (#312)
Silence in prayer is not passivity but as Cardinal Sarah notes, it is an active life on entering into the work of God through the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is choosing to speak words of gentleness and kindness towards others rather than ridicule and slander. It is seeking works of compassion and mercy rather than violence and retribution. It is offering service and sacrifice in the face of greed and lust for power. It is not being naive but rather courageous in choosing to love in the face of hatred.
As we celebrate this weekend, let us seek to reach out in joyful hope as we remember those who have died serving our nation and in the silence of prayer offer the hope of a world that is brought into the peace and blessing of Jesus Christ. Let us take up our Cross and follow Him in love.
God Bless
Fr. Mark