November is a month for remembering. We've had Guy Fawkes' night - 'remember, remember the 5th of November', although I doubt if there were many warming their hands round bonfires remembering that the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament just over 400 years ago was foiled! Interestingly, as far as politics in concerned, the 5th of November 2008 will go down in history as a day to remember in that Barack Obama became the first black person to be elected to the White House and be the next president of the United States of America. Many hope that he will be a man for peace on the earth. But today, the 11th of November, we remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country. The 11th being the day that ninety years ago signalled the end of what is called 'The Great War'. There have been many wars and conflicts since. We remember the sacrifices made - lost lives, lost limbs - because their sacrifice delivered many from evil. When we remember, we as Christians can't help but remember the sacrifice that took place at Calvary nearly two thousand years ago, It is a hard to fathom but the Bible declares that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself : The Crucified God. The cross speaks of both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of reconciliation : God and humankind; human with fellow human. Let's remember that too today and pray it be so. |
