A Prayer For Armistice Day

Act of Remembrance

Each year on this day and at this hour we promise:
"We will remember them":
Remember the lives lost, the futures stolen,
the partners widowed, the children orphaned;
Remember the terrible waste of human ingenuity and skill
squandered on military material,
exploded, broken, burnt, destroyed;
Remember the landscapes turned to wasteland,
trees uprooted, harvests lost, watercourses poisoned.

And yet so often we humans forget and are drawn once more
down paths that lead to further scenes of grief and pain.

Despite the tragedy of past and present conflicts,
we dare to face these scars with hope:
the hope of a healing of hearts, a reconciling of enemies,
a restoring of nature and the building of a different future,
in which humanity does not hate or destroy;
For this is God's Creation and
God's song is a song of flourishing, fruitfulness and harvest.
God's Word is a Word of love, compassion and mercy.

God's image is in every human being, friend or foe.

God's innocence is born anew in every child.

God's Spirit is abroad in our world, blowing where it will
and yielding fruits of peace and plenty,
understanding and friendship.

Lord God, listen to our cries of sorrow
Awaken in our hearts a dream of a different tomorrow
Give us the courage to work for a land truly fit for heroes:
A people at peace with itself and with its neighbours,
an international order based on trust and cooperation,
not fear and rivalry.

Let peace begin today in our hearts, in our remembering,
Lest we forget and sow once more the seeds of war.

In God's name. Amen.

© Rob Esdaile, 2022

Fr Rob is Parish Priest at St Dunstan's and St Hugh of Lincoln Catholic parishes in Woking. He has published several books of poetry including: A Word in Edgeways' and 'An Invaded Life'. For more information or to order copies, email: rob.esdaile@abdiocese.org.uk or write to: The Priests' House, St Paul's Road, Woking Surrey GU22,7DZ.