May 24, 2020
Message of Archbishop Foley Beach, Memorial Day 2019
How true ring these words of our Archbishop:
“On this Memorial Day and as we look, on TV, at the National Cemeteries here and overseas, we can’t help but be reminded of Jesus’ Agape Love. In John 15:12-14a, Jesus told of the actions that represent the self-sacrificial Agape Love by many of those soldiers interred in these cemeteries: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends . . .”. We are made in the image of God; therefore, we are supposed to be perfect mirrors of God's Agape Love (i.e. self-sacrificing love). In 1 John 4:16-17, John tells us about God’s Love: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world." Sin is our failure to act as our God of Agape Love-- the opposite of Agape Love is our self-love. Also, in 1 John 4:18-19, John presents us with the fruits of Agape Love, within the context of God’s model for Agape Love: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us." Today, let us all remember those with God’s Agape Love sacrificed so much for us by giving up their lives.”
Lord, as we reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, we give thanks for the sacrifices made by those who are serving, those who have served, and for the sacrifices made by their families.
Faithfully,
Rich Garon
Senior Warden