In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is Remembrance Day. It is a day to say “thank you” and to remember all those who have served and are currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. During the first half of the 20th century, 1.5 million Canadians were called upon to defend peace and freedom. We are truly grateful to those who worked hard and even sacrificed their lives to make Canada a safe, peaceful and free country.
Today is also the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours. At age 15, Martin joined the army. As an officer, he was entitled to have a servant to serve him but he chose instead to be a servant to others. St. Martin fought for peace and justice as a soldier of Christ.
Let us listen to this Reflection of Remembrance.
We Shall Keep the Faith by Moina Michael, November 1918
O you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw and holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red that grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red we wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught; we’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Today is also Day 5 of Treaties Recognition Week. Today we reflect on Honouring the Land. Lazarus Wesley, a Nakoda Elder, when talking about the treaties his people made with the Europeans, says that they did not know they were being asked to give up their land. What they thought was that the government was only saying that they would plow the land to grow something, nothing more. For Indigenous peoples, agreeing to treaties was meant to be a part of keeping a strong spiritual connection to the land. We end the week by praying the Treaty Week Prayer.
Let us remember that Indigenous peoples gently walked this land,
Let us remember that Treaties are promises. Let us respect those promises.
Let us remember all of the promises in our lives. Let us remember that bullying causes pain and hurt. Let us remember to be kind to everyone. Let us remember to stick up for someone who is being bullied.
Let us remember to treat others the way we want to be treated.
Let us remember to love our neighbours.
Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.