Scripture:
Reflection:
In 1 Peter 1:3-9 we are reminded of God’s goodness and love. Even when we don’t see or feel that presence and goodness it is there! Peter reminds us that life will have its ups and downs, trials and suffering, but ultimately God wins out! Faith tells us of the love and security we all share with the one who created us. Mark also reminds us that with God everything is possible as long as we put our faith and trust in a loving and persistent God.
Today we take time out of our holiday gatherings to pause and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy in this country we call the land of the free and the home of the brave! We remember in prayer all of those military men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom. We pray also for our veterans of past conflicts as well as those who currently serve in the military. We owe a great debt of gratitude and blessings to all of these courageous and faithful service men and women.
So as you gather with family and friends this Memorial Day, pause and offer a blessing for all those who have endured trials and suffering past and present! Take time to visit a veterans’ grave and offer a prayer of thanks or stop by a nearby veterans facility to say hello and thank them for their service. You might write a letter to a soldier stationed far from home and let them know someone is thinking about them or invite the soldiers in your area for hospitality and a chance to unwind.
However we choose to celebrate this day of remembrance may we never forget these words from 1 Peter:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
Kept in heaven for you…..
Theresa Secord is a Pastoral Associate at St. Agnes Parish, Louisville, Kentucky.