This upcoming weekend is one of the most looked-forward-to weekends on the annual calendar. Marking the unofficial start of summer, the three-day weekend created by the federal holiday of Memorial Day means that school is either over or nearly over and vacations are fast approaching. It is a time to head to the beach, fire up the grill, and enjoy time with friends and family.
But that wasn’t the initial purpose for establishing a holy day of remembrance.
According to the United States Code, Section 36, dealing with Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Observations, Congress found that “it is essential to remember and renew the legacy of Memorial Day, which was established in 1868 to pay tribute to individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States and their families.” Evidently, somewhere between the original establishment of Memorial Day and 2000, the solemn purpose of that specific holiday had been lost in the rush to enjoy summer, which caused Congress to revise and amend the language regarding Memorial Day. Under the “National Moment of Remembrance Act,” Congress thereby designated the first minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to be recognized as the National Moment of Remembrance. During that time, according to the US Code, and by Presidential Proclamation, the American people are called to join together in prayer for permanent peace.
There are so many voices in the nation right now staking out wildly different positions. One of those voices declares that the First Amendment is a right to freedom from religion, not of religion, and that Christianity has no place in the governance of this nation. Such voices seem quite unaware of the role of faith and religion in shaping our nation, from the framing of our Declaration of Independence written 250 years ago to an act that was established in 2000 and subsequently amended less than 20 years ago. Unfortunately, when the foundation of a national identity is rooted in a Creator who endows us with rights and should be prayed to for peace, and large portions of the population reject the very notion that such a God exists or is worthy of being prayed to, it makes sense that our identity as a nation would be muddled.
According to the Old Testament, when the Jewish people walked into the Promised Land of Canaan, one group was to stand on the side of Mount Gerizim to bless the people for keeping the commands of the Lord, while another group was to stand on the side of Mount Ebal to pronounce curses on those who did things contrary to the will of God. The expectation was clear – be a nation that glorifies God and it will go well but be a nation that defies God and divine justice will prevail. God watched patiently for several centuries, but the Israelites strayed far from their founding roots and disregarded the commands of God. Ultimately, divine justice took the form of the invasions and subsequent exile at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians, and then the utter desolation of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans in 70 AD.
There have been many moments in the history of our nation when our leaders have called us to pray – moments when it was clear that God’s divine blessing could easily be replaced by His divine curse with a result that might resemble the fate of ancient Israel. Prayer is a critical part of our national heritage, and it is the federally designated manner by which we are called to remember the sacrifices made by so many of America’s sons and daughters in the quest for peace. Indeed, prayer is in the very lifeblood of this nation, which means that we must remember it and exercise it if we are to hold onto the identity that was forged 250 years ago by men who understood that God, and not a king, is the true Sovereign. So, for that reason, even as you are enjoying your Memorial Day holiday this Monday doing whatever it is that you do, please remember to take at least one minute out of your day, at 3:00, and offer a prayer to the Prince of Peace, that there might be peace on Earth and good will towards men. And I assure you that no offense will be taken if your prayers extend far beyond 60 seconds.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron