Memorial Day 2014

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give (LSB 757.1).

Each year, Americans gather on this day to remember the fallen warriors of our nation's history. We remember those who have paid the fullest price for the freedoms which we now enjoy. We give thanks for the gifts they have given, which continue to give to far-removed generations. We honor the memory of those we have lost, and we entreat the Lord of Hosts that no more may be slain.

When a soldier goes off to war, it is a somber moment. He knows, as do his parents, family, and friends, that he may not come back alive. He knows that danger and hardship await him. And yet, he knows not what lies ahead, whether he will die or live. He only knows that he is needed in service to His country, in service to his neighbor, and thereby in service to God.

We do not know the plans and counsels of God. We do not know what tomorrow may bring, whether we shall live or die. We know that nations rise and fall, that leaders ascend and topple, and that peoples wax and wane. We know that the Lord overthrows those who oppose Him, and blesses those who love Him and keep His commandments.

We remember this day that what we have is not ours, but is a sacred trust from Him who has created all things by His almighty Word and Spirit. We give thanks to God for the manifold blessings He has bestowed upon us: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; house, home, family, and friends; honest employ and godly gain; an abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful society. We remember with gratitude all those whom God has pleased to call into His service, using them to provide for us all manner of bodily good. We honor the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for us.

Most importantly, we remember the Lord who sits on the throne of the whole world, governing and judging all nations and peoples. We give thanks that the Son of Man, our savior Jesus Christ sits on the throne of God, granting salvation to all who would believe in His precious death and glorious resurrection. We give thanks for the freedom He has earned from sin, death, and the devil. For by His stripes we are healed, and upon Him was the chastisement that brought us true and everlasting peace. By His all-availing sacrifice, we are freed to love and serve our neighbor and our nation, even unto death, knowing that nothing in all creation – not even death – can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.