November 11, 2020
Dear Ones,
Today is Veteran’s Day and many of us will have a day off from work or school. The Book of Common Prayer has many prayers for national life, including one For those in the Armed Forces of our Country and one For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience (both can be found on page 823 of the BCP). I commend these prayers to you today, and especially this lovely Prayer for the Nation:
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 258)
It took me a long time to learn the difference between Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day–Memorial Day being a day when we “remember” especially those who have died and Veterans’ Day a day for all who have served. My stepfather was a Vietnam Veteran, my father served during the Korean War, and my father-in-law in World War II. None of them, thankfully, died while serving! It is also helpful to remember that the holiday we celebrate on November 11 began as Armistice Day, the day that the “war to end all wars” (World War I) ended. So it is entirely appropriate, as I see it, to use this day to celebrate and work for peace, both at home and throughout the world.
Finally, it must be noted that today is also the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, our patron saint.
Martin was a complex man, one whose life and example deserve more study. As one excellent blog post puts it, “A conscientious objector who wanted to be a monk; a monk who was maneuvered into being a bishop; a bishop who fought paganism as well as pleaded for mercy to heretics—such was Martin of Tours, one of the most popular of saints and one of the first not to be a martyr.”
A modern hagiographer, James Kiefer, notes that while November 11 is generally considered the day of Martin’s death (traditionally saints are remembered on the day the die, not the day they are born), the coincidence of it falling on this particular secular holiday is a fruitful one for our consideration. I am reminded of the concept of dual citizenship (in the kingdom of God and in our nation) explored by Bishop Andy Doyle in his recent book Citizen:Faithful Discipleship in a Partisan World. He writes,
“Christian citizenship does not have a methodological beginning in the political philosophies of Plato or Aristotle. It does not begin with what kind of Christians our founders were. Christian citizenship find its roots in the ancient story of God who invites us to be part of God’s story by virtue of our own creation. Christian citizenship recognizes that we are always and everywhere a member of God’s created realm. We are in relationship to God and to others. Our narrative begins with God and is forever interwoven with others. Moreover, it takes place in a particular context–God’s kingdom.” (p. 31)
May this be a day when we all pause and give thanks for our dual citizenship–and also remember that our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God. How blessed we are!
Faithfully,
Pamela+
