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John 15:13: Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends,

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends, John 15:13.

On November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed to end the Great War, the war to end all wars – the First World War. Canadians, our friends and our family, in service to God, King, and country, marched overseas to lay down their lives for our friends.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

On November 11, 1813, 200+ years ago, Canadians repulsed an horrific enemy invasion, with the help of our friends, the British and the First Nations. We laid down our life for our family. They laid down their life for us, their friends.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

On November 11, we remember also our friends and families who headed overseas for World War II, in service to God, King, and country to lay down their lives for their friends.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

In the Cold War that followed, again Canadians headed overseas – this time to Korea – to offer our lives on behalf of our allies and to lay down our lives for our friends.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

As the cold war progressed, Canadians donned blue berets for the first time protecting and reconciling populations, and still offering our lives for our friends.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

2000 years ago, Jesus died on the cross so that we all may live.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

Through the real horrors of the wars a great thing happened: Canada’s primary foes during 1814, 1914, and 1944 are now some of our closest allies. Our soldiers laid down their lives for us, their friends. And they laid down their lives so that we could be reconciled to our brothers. Canada is reconciled to her old foes and united with them more than ever because of the sacrifice of friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, our veterans.

Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

And it was through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we all may experience this same reconciliation with God.

Jesus laid down his life for us, his friends.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and today we are still fighting for peace as our soldiers are still laying down their lives so that one day the dreams of World War I can be realized; one day ‘the war to end all wars’ will finally have been fought and then their deaths will not have been in vain for their will be no more need for tears or for brave young men and women lay down their lives for their friends.

Today as we remember those who have laid down their lives for us, their friends, so that we could be reconciled with our old foes, let us us – as veterans do every year – remember that Christ laid down his life for us, his friends so that we could be reconciled to God.

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