Message: Remembrance & Courage / Haggai 1:15b-2:9

Today is Remembrance Sunday, a time to recognize, reflect, and remember those who have dedicated their lives and worked for peace. Peace never just happens. A bird can fly peacefully across the sky only after countless hours of flapping its wings, learning, and daring to rise high, even at the risk of falling. In the same way, the peace we enjoy today was made possible because many people have planted, nurtured, protected, and cared for the seeds of peace with hard work, courage, and love, here in Canada and around the world. In this spirit, we remember those who gave their lives for peace. We also remember those who continue to serve, including soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and many others who work for the safety and freedom of all. 

Today’s first Scripture reading from Haggai invites us to reflect on the meaning of remembrance. The prophet Haggai lived in Jerusalem around 520 BCE, during a time when people deeply needed strength and courage. The people of Judah had returned to their homeland after years of captivity in Babylon. They were free again, but their lives were not easy. They had to rebuild everything from the beginning.

About 66 years earlier, the Babylonian Empire had completely conquered the kingdom of Judah. For Jerusalem, it was the worst thing that could have happened. The temple was destroyed. Houses were burned. Buildings were ruined. The city walls were torn down. Thousands of people were killed. The sound of weeping filled the city. Peace disappeared. Freedom was buried. 

Even worse, about 18,000 people were taken captive to Babylon. Many of them were leaders, teachers, and skilled workers. They were forced to live in a foreign land and to serve the empire that had destroyed their own home.

But no empire lasts forever. 55 years later, the Persian Empire defeated Babylon, and King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Israelites to return home. For those who had suffered in exile, this was wonderful news. Their hearts were filled with joy.

It was a long journey. The trip from Babylon to Jerusalem took almost 4 months. The people travelled under the hot sun and across dry deserts. Each step was heavy. They led their children, carried their belongings, and guided their livestock. The people in other countries along the way were not always kind to them. Even so, they did not give up on their journey home, and eventually they arrived.

However, their celebration did not last long. What they saw broke their hearts. Jerusalem was silent and full of ruins. The streets were overgrown. The houses were still burned and empty. The city walls could no longer protect anything. There were no smiles on the faces of those who had remained after the war because they were struggling to live one day at a time.

When they came to the temple, their hearts ached even more. It was no longer the sacred place they remembered, but only a pile of broken stones. For them, the temple was not just a religious building. It was the heart of their nation. It was the centre that gave life and meaning to their community. It was a place of fellowship, where people gathered and shared their lives. It was a place of hospitality, where offerings were shared with the poor. It was a place of learning, where they were taught how to live as righteous and peaceful people.

Most of all, the temple was a place of remembrance. It reminded them of the One who cared for their ancestors, when they were strangers. It reminded them of the One who heard the cries of the slaves in Egypt and set them free. It reminded them of the One who gave them the Law as a promise of peace and justice. That is why they longed so deeply to rebuild the temple.

But rebuilding was not easy. They had few supplies and not enough workers. Enemies from nearby regions interrupted their work. As time went on, they became tired in both body and spirit. 18 long years passed, and still, the temple remained unfinished.

At that moment, God sent the prophet Haggai to the people. During the Feast of Booths, they gathered before the ruins of the temple. Haggai spoke to Zerubbabel, the political leader, to Joshua, the high priest, and to all the people. Through him, God said, “Take courage. Take courage. And take courage. Work. I am with you. Remember the promise I made when your ancestors came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you. Do not fear. In this place, I will give prosperity.”

The word prosperity here comes from the Hebrew word shalom, which means peace, harmony, and well-being. This message gave the people courage and strength. They understood once again that they were not alone. And something amazing happened. The temple that had remained unfinished for 18 years was finally completed in just 5 years. Remembrance gave them courage, hope, and the power to build again.

Some Christians worry that commemorating Remembrance Day during Sunday worship might encourage a form of harmful nationalism. They say that it could conflict with our Christian faith, which teaches that all people are children of God. They warn that strong nationalism can threaten world peace, pointing out that our faith should guide us toward a global community where every person is treated with dignity and fairness.

In a way, this concern is important to listen to. But we must not confuse loving our country with toxic nationalism. True patriot love means caring for everyone and everything in Canada with gratitude and responsibility. It is like self-love. To love ourselves truly is not the same as selfishness. True love for ourselves brings inner peace, and that peace allows us to love others as we love ourselves. When we love ourselves in this way, we move beyond selfishness and become able to help others live in peace.

In the same way, when we love our country truly, our country can become a cradle of peace. True love for our country inspires us to care for the vulnerable in other countries, to protect the earth, and to serve the common good. This kind of love does not lead to division or violence. It plants seeds of peace that can grow beyond our borders. When we learn our nation’s history, when we sing our national anthem, when we celebrate Remembrance Day, when we honour those who have served, when we work for justice in our community, and even when we cheer for the Blue Jays, we are standing on guard for Canada. This is very different from selfish nationalism that seeks conflict, dominance, or control. It is the way God keeps our land glorious and free.

Do-Jun Jung, a Korean philosopher and reformer of the 14th century, once said that a small stream first fills the nearest pool before it can overflow into others. Only then does it become a river and, at last, the sea. Likewise, peace in the world begins with the nearest love. He criticized the idea that we should show unlimited mercy to everyone without first learning to care for those closest to us, saying that it is unrealistic and hypocritical. 

When we love ourselves truly, we can love our families. When we love our families, we can love our neighbours. When we love our neighbours, we can love our community. When we love our community, we can love our country. And when we love our country truly, we can love the world and work for peace among all nations. That is what the Bible teaches us. That is what we learn from Jesus Christ, who truly loved his own people as a Jew and became the Saviour for all in the world.

Today, we hear the voice of God: “Take courage. You are not alone.” God is calling us to rebuild our temple of remembrance, a spiritual sanctuary for peace. God is calling us to remember our history and to shine the light of hope in our world.

Lest we forget. May our remembrance give us courage. May the memory of those who lived and died for peace strengthen our hearts, so that we rebuild what has been broken. May we love Canada more deeply, so that our love contributes to the peace of the world. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge, ON