The Pain of Remembrance

A friend of mine is a Brother in a lay monastic community called ‘The Servants of the Word.’ He and his Brothers do amazing work in the area of helping young people explore the life of faith and discipleship, and what it might look like to follow Jesus in our world today.

Back in 2016, he asked me to take part in their international conference in Poland. I was asked to give a talk about Anglicanism, lead a Communion service, and be there to pray with, and accompany, any delegates who were on the conference. It was a joy to work alongside people from other Christian traditions, to worship and study and pray together, and to see so many communities and nationalities gather from all across the world.

We flew into Krakow from Dublin and, as I had a few hours before my lift to the conference which was being held a few hours north of the city, I hopped on a train from the airport to the city centre. The architecture was beautiful in the squares and the people were friendly, and I returned to the airport  to get my lift to the conference.

Last weekend is a weekend in which many churches observe the solemn ritual of Remembrance. Often poppy wreaths are laid in memory of those who lost their lives in 2 world wars and in conflicts since. We have parishioners who have served in different capacities, and it’s always a very poignant occasion as we lay wreaths, keep silence and pray.

On the day before Remembrance Sunday, a young Polish man drove into the central square in Krakow. He got out of his car carrying an automatic rifle, dressed in military fatigues, and opened fire indiscriminately.

Press reports say that, earlier that day, this 24 year old man killed his parents and his sister in their family home, before killing 6 more people and injuring 16 in this terrible act of violence.

It is reported that he had sympathies with far right ideologies and had been researching similar attacks on the internet. During the course of the attack, a policeman shot and wounded the gun man who never regained consciousness and died this morning.

It’s hard to countenance such a violent and horrible act that was designed to kill and injure as many as possible in a short space of time. There is the contrast between this action and the beautiful place in which it happened.

What’s also striking is how this brutal atrocity has united bitter political rivals, as the President and Prime minister came together in a memorial service and put in a rare show of unity.

Thousands of people came together to march through the city centre silently to display their desire for a peaceful society, and to remember and honour the dead and injured.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting 2 off duty surgeons, who happened to be in the city centre with their families, rushed to administer first aid to all who were shot, including the gunman who was shot by a police man. A St. John’s Ambulance team from the UK, who were on a holiday weekend, also did what they could to help the injured. Shops, bars  and restaurants did all they could to assist practically, and you got the sense that, even in the most awful of circumstances, human kindness and compassion were the embodiment of hope.

This was a terrible event and a very traumatic one for those who were present and who have been affected, but evil did not win the day. It was the ordinary acts of kindness, of using tablecloths, drinks and loving physical presence to help those in need and distress.

We pause to remember, and we give thanks for the ordinary quiet heroes who ensure that violence and war will not have the final say. I think of how our stunning poppy display in the church, loving prepared and mounted by the crafters, says the same thing.

Lord, help us, we pray, to be instruments of your peace:
where there is hatred, let us sow your love;
where there is injury, your pardon, Lord;
and where there is doubt, true faith in you;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Master, grant that we may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
and to be loved as to love with all our soul.
(St. Francis of Assisi)

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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