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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Tim Thornton, Bishop to the Armed Forces

Good morning

The perspective on any conflict changes the more it is considered, and the more time goes by. It is vital that we remember but that very act of remembering entails a reworking of both the details of what happened and the attempt to search for truth and justice in all that took place.

Inevitably in conflict horrendous actions take place, wrong things are done, and all sorts of people have to live with the consequences. There is always a danger in trying to reach definitive conclusions about rights and wrongs in war. The one lesson we should learn is never to do it again. Yet of course that is the one lesson we keep forgetting to learn.

God is not surprised by the failings of humans. God is not surprised by the goodness shown by many humans. God is not surprised by the courage shown by so many who serve in the armed forces.

It should not be a surprise to any of us to understand how complicated war is and how very difficult it is to strive to live to bring about justice and peace.

What is a surprise in the light of all that we remember at this time of year is that there is hope? And as Charles Peguy a French writer and theologian who sadly died in the first world war in 1914 said God is surprised by hope.

As we remember may we continue to work to understand the lessons of the past and even more may we be open to the surprise of hope.

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those people who have been injured or who have died in active service. As we honour their courage and cherish their memory, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life, peace and hope, now and for ever.

Amen

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