Love Thy Neighbour as Thy Self; A Remembrance Day Message (Nov 11, 2022)

Note: John 15:9-13 and Mark 12:30-31 is intended to be read before this message. This message was prepared by Chaplain Jesse Darby of the Royal Canadian Legion, Robert G. Combe V.C. Branch 61, in Melville Sask.

As we gather here and remember those who have served our country and who are currently serving our country, we find ourselves sharing a special moment. A moment when we come together and remember years past of the sacrifice that was poured out so that we might enjoy the lives that we live today. A moment that we spend together out of respect, a sense of duty, and maybe even obligation.

This week I have had the privilege of “touring” our local schools here in Melville and in Grayson with our flag party. One of the things I attempted to do before I prayed for each school during their remembrance day assemblies was I tried to relate what remembrance day can mean for each one of us as individuals. Remembrance day should be more than just remembering, don’t get me wrong, remembering the sacrifice of all those who served is very important, but Remembrance day should also call us to action.

As I stand here today thinking of the reasons for remembrance day, I can’t help but stop and think about what would those who gave everything so that we might be able to live in freedom think if they saw our society today.

I have spent many hours listening to the stories of the men and women who fought for our freedoms and I can’t help but see that my generation (along with all those who come after my generation) is different from theirs. We are a generation of instant information, and distractions. We are a generation of, “if it isn’t working it might just be better to throw it away and start over.” Something has changed in this generation.

We are a generation of people who would rather be keyboard warriors than confront someone face to face. We are a generation of people who let our feelings get in the way of being a neighbour, being just polite enough to say a generic "hello". We are a generation that pulls out our phones to record someone drowning instead of running to aid that person to help them to safety.

We alienate our families, friends, and neighbours who disagree with us on the slightest topics because…. Well… how dare they… right?

But what would those who “walked the walk and talked the talk” say today? For your information. When I say walked the walk and talked the talk, I am referring to those who gave their all so we could live our lives the way we want to today.

This last month, I spent some time learning about the generation who fought the war that would supposedly end all wars. These men and women were raised on Biblical values, whether or not they believed in Christ. Biblical values were still heavily ingrained in their society. They learned things like “love your neighbour as your self,” and they also learned things like “there is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for another.”

There is one particular story which I heard that stuck with me. There was a farmer, whose dad served in the war. As he was growing up, his dad made sure to raise his son in a way that would help him be a respectable member of society. His dad reminded his son of stories such as that as the good samaritan, he reminded his son that you love your neighbour, and that means helping them when they are in need. His dad reminded him that being willing to sacrifice yourself for the betterment of those around you isn’t just honourable, but it is the very definition of Love. This farmer grew up, and as he grew up, his dad grew old and eventually passed. Old neighbours moved, and new neighbours came. As the new came in, the farmer found that some of these neighbours were kinda bothersome. They moved to the prairies pursuing some sort of Laura Ingles Wilder’s description of Little House on the Prairies, they did everything wrong. They got equipment stuck… often. Since he was one of the most experienced farmers, they would call on him for help… often. So he would go and help them time in and time out. One memory of note that was expressed to me was when one of these neighbours came over because they needed to borrow equipment. The farmer agreed and watched his equipment disappear out of sight down the grid road. When it finally came back, it was damaged. The farmer, rightfully upset, fixed the equipment. But the next year, the same neighbour came back seeking the same equipment. The farmer pointed out some of the issues from the last year, but let the neighbour borrow the equipment anyways. The equipment came back in better shape. But it was still clear the neighbours had a long way to go to learn how to farm.

One year this farmer found himself needing help, so he called on his neighbours. Remembering all the times they called on him, they dropped what they were doing and went straight to helping the farmer accomplish the task that he was stuck with.

Time went on, and eventually, this farmer passed away too, beloved husband, dad, friend, and neighbour. At this farmer's funeral, you would have thought he was a celebrity. There was only standing room. In fact, people were lined out the doors. He may not have been a celebrity, but he was a good neighbour.

No matter how we look at it, the men and women who served our country believed to some extent in the two passages that were read before this message. Mark 12:31 tells us that the second most important commandment, next to loving the Lord your God with all your soul, heart, and mind, is to ... “Love your neighbour as yourselves”. We are reminded that there is no greater commandment than this in John 15:13 where we are told that “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Imagine, if we lived by the standards of those who went and fought for our lives as we know and enjoy them today; how different would our world be? These men and women believed that their neighbours, who they had never met, were owed the rights and freedoms that were being enjoyed in Canada at the time. They believed that no matter who you were, you had the right to live your life in peace and freedom. They believed that it was their duty to be a good neighbour no matter what. Believing this, they all made the ultimate sacrifice.

As we remember those who sacrificed everything for us, can I encourage you, next time you see someone in need, stop and help them. Avoid letting your cell phone get in the way of loving your neighbour. Also, remember, just because you don’t agree with someone, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a good neighbour to them as well.

As you reflect on this message the Melville Ad Hoc Choir will now lead us in the singing of the Hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past

Let us Pray

Please rise to receive this Benediction:

I solemnly charge you in front of this assembly, and with God as a witness, to go out from today’s ceremony honouring the memory of our veterans by loving your neighbour as yourself.