Tonbridge Freedom Parade (Ezek.36.22-28;Acts 11.19-30)
In the centre of England, not far from Stafford, is the National Memorial Arboretum, a
huge expanse of land – 120 football pitches - set aside to say thank you to those
people and organisations who have given themselves in the service of the nation.
Memorials to the police, merchant navy, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and, of
course, to countless regiments and units from the army, navy and airforce. At the
heart of this amazing place, a place full of light and very moving sculptures, is the
Armed Forces Memorial with names of all those who have given their lives in the
service of their country since 1945, the end of WWII.....16,000 men and women. But
what is abundantly clear from this memorial and from the place as a whole with its
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light, sculptures and woodland, are 4 qualities that are important in the activities of
the armed forces which are also at the heart of the Christian faith: 1.commitment to a
greater cause, a cause outside of ourselves; 2. selflessness and courage in service;
3. Support of the vulnerable; and these are held together and enabled by 4. Deep
sense of community/camaraderie.
As you, the Tigers, march through Tonbridge this afternoon, it will be a great honour
for us to show our respect, support and thanks for all that you do on our behalf. Your
presence, both here this afternoon and in the places you serve overseas, brings a
sense of security and relief. But just as you, as a regiment, strengthen and confirm
your commitment to us by your presence today, so too we, citizens, politicians and
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councillors, need to strengthen and confirm our commitment to you and your
families... in our responsibility of what we ask of you in the field and in the support of
you when you return. We ask a lot of you – we need to be generous in our thanks.
Let’s return to those 4 qualities:1.commitment to a greater cause; 2. selflessness and
courage
in
service;
community/camaraderie.
3.
Support
of
the
vulnerable.
4.Deep
sense
of
These qualities, are particularly important for us to
rediscover in society today. Despite the gloomy news that bombards us each day
encouraging us to focus on difficulties rather than possibilities, on problems rather
than opportunities, lifting our eyes beyond ourselves, whether we do so in support of
faith, community or people enhances our humanity and provides a different lens
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through which to view the difficulties we may be facing. The source of this urge to
look beyond is the call of God to go beyond, beckoning us into a deeper relationship
with him and each other. A place looks different if we view it from the top of the
mountain than if we view it from the valley. In that first reading, the people of Israel
were turned in on themselves, they lost a wider vision and perspective – they were
needing a new heart - and walked into disaster. When our eyes are lifted to a vision
greater than ourselves, beyond ourselves, then that commitment can draw out from
within us a selflessness and even courage and we discover that our own welfare is
wrapped up in the welfare of others and so as we take care of others, we are also
taking care of ourselves. This is particularly true when we support those who can’t
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support themselves....those who are victims of circumstances beyond their control,
whether they are victims of war, sickness, social conditions, prejudice or natural
disaster such as famines – and in the second reading we heard of the disciples’
concern for those afflicted by famine. None of this would be possible without a
strong sense of community and camaraderie, people with whom we can be
ourselves, with whom we can laugh and cry.
It is also important that we are
constantly open to widening this community so that it is not inward-looking and
exclusive.
In that second reading we heard about a follower of Jesus Christ called Barnabas.
Barnabas was a great encourager and one of his gifts was to stop Christians from
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being too turned in on themselves and he encouraged them to bring others into the
Christian circle. In particular he brought in somebody called Saul, also known as
Paul, who had been an enemy and persecutor, but, through an encounter with Christ
had become a follower and supporter and central to the telling of the Christian story.
We need our friends and supporters and our comrades around us, but it is important
that we allow fresh blood and challenges in to widen the circle and to ensure we
don’t become too narrow. Again, central to the Christian faith is being a community
of care, care for each other and for society’s victims and outcasts.
1.commitment to a greater cause; 2. selflessness and courage in service; 3. Support
of the vulnerable. 4.Deep sense of community/camaraderie, qualities/virtues central
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to the ethos of the armed service and shared by the Christian faith, virtues which
bring hope and opportunity.
Sermon preached on 19th June 2011 in Tonbridge School Chapel to a gathered
company including the Second Battalion of the Princess of Wales Regiment (the
Tigers) before their marching through Tonbridge.
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