November 2011
What are men for? The answer given by Rob Munro, our bishop, while on an October visit to our congregations, was that men are to be “strength that sacrifices”. That is, we are to be strong in every way (not just physically) so that we can stand against all that is evil. And when there is a price to pay, and suffering that can’t be dodged, we are to be ready to step into the line of fire to protect those we love. How did the bishop know that is our calling? “Because,” he said, “that’s what Jesus did.”
Those who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and work tell us that he always chose to serve and not to be served, that he rebuked his disciples for worrying about their own needs instead of serving others, and that he courageously stood up to the powerful Jerusalem leaders who were exploiting widows. And, knowing that his execution was the sacrifice that was needed to save others from their sin, Jesus told the mob that came for him in the middle of the night to let his friends go free and to get on with arresting him. “Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (Jesus in John 15:13)
Of course both fathers and mothers should sacrifice for their children, and self-sacrifice is essential to all love. But a healthy nation will be one that is not ashamed to especially encourage its young men to be strong, strong in the fight against all that is evil, and strong in their willingness to shoulder the responsibility to sacrifice themselves for others. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …” (the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5)
On Remembrance Sunday we will remember with sadness and gratitude the years in our history when the ultimate sacrifice was required of so many hundreds of thousands. Churchill thought that this selfless courage had turned dark days into “great days — the greatest days our country has ever lived”.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.
Sincerely
Graham Burrows
