Memorial Day: War; Celebrating; Remembering; and Building a Better World

(From Remember, Spyder_Monkey; via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)

"...Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle-flags were furl'd
In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world.

"There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe,
And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in universal law...."
("Locksley Hall," Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

As a youth, those were among my favorite lines of poetry. A half-century later, they still are: although I've learned to temper my optimism with patience.

Remembering

Today is Memorial Day, the third day in a three-day weekend that's the unofficial start of summer's vacation season. It's also a day when some of us honor those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Following our custom, the American president will probably lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Looking Back

Folks have been decorating burial sites with flowers for thousands of years: and, from what we found in Shanidar IV burials, quite possibly tens of thousands. My guess is that we've been doing something of the sort for upwards of 300,000 years, and that's another topic.

Our Memorial Day is much more recent. Starting in 1865, quite a few Americans remembered those killed in the War Between the States and other conflicts in May. All that got merged into a standardized three-day weekend in 1971, and that's yet another topic.

I think it would be nice if wars never happened, or if all conflicts could be settled over a cup of tea. Sadly, we do not live in a nice world. On the other hand, I'm cautiously optimistic.

After slaughtering each other in a series of increasingly devastating wars, Europeans have managed to avoid an internecine war for several generations: and even cobbled together the European Union.

Looking Ahead

If the descendants of my ancestors could learn to bury the hatchet metaphorically, and not in each other: my guess is that anybody can.

The process of building something like Tennyson's "Federation of the world" will take hard work and time: my guess is that we're looking at generations, centuries. But I think establishing what the Catechism calls an "international authority with the necessary competence and power" to sort out conflict without war will be worth the effort. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2307-2317)

Meanwhile, I think there's good sense in these words:

" 'Immaturus obi; sed tu felicior annos vive meos: Bona Republica! vive tuos.'

'I died before my time, but thou O great and good Republic, live out my years while you live out your own.'"
(Inscriptions on Meriwether Lewis memorial, via National Park Service.)

In a way, folks who take a vacation during Memorial Day weekend are following Meriwether Lewis' advice: and, in a sense, honoring our nation's dead by enjoying the comparative freedom and peace we have within our borders.

Related posts:

• This blog
  • "Praying for Peace in Syria"
    (September 6, 2013)
  • "Trinity Sunday: Our God is a Sharing God"
    (May 26, 2013)
  • "Being Catholic on Memorial Day Weekend"
    (May 27, 2012)
    Particularly
    • Patriotism, Citizenship
    • The '60s, War, and Memorial Day
    • When 'Being Nice' Doesn't Work
    • Building a Better World
  • " 'Just War:' Unpleasant, but Not a Contradiction in Terms"
    (March 22, 2011)
  • "Rambling on About Memorial Day, the Flag, and Snake Oil"
    (May 28, 2010)
• Elsewhere
  • "Memorial Day Weekend 2011"
    Another War-on-Terror Blog(May 28, 2011)
  • "Memorial Day: a Rather Official View"
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (May 30, 2010)
  • "Memorial Day Weekend, 2010: a Long Weekend - and Something Else "
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (May 29, 2010)

Guide, Friend, Counselor, Comforter: the Holy Spirit

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014:

• Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
• 1 Peter 3:15-18
• John 14:15-21

---

Sixth Sunday of Easter 2014

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 25, 2014

In an anonymous e-mail, we are told a story we need to hear on this Memorial Day weekend. It's about an old man and his wife sitting in the parking lot of a supermarket. The hood is up on their car. Evidently they were having engine problems.

A young man in his early 20s with a grocery bag in his arms walks in the direction of the older couple. The older gentleman emerges from his car and takes a few steps in the young man's direction. He points to the open hood and asks the young man for assistance. The young man puts his grocery bag into his expensive SUV, turns back to the old man and yelled at him: "you shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age." And then with a wave of his hand, he gets into his car and speeds out of the parking lot. The old gentleman pulls out his handkerchief, mops his brow and goes back to his car. Again he looks at the engine. He then goes to his wife and appears to reassure her that everything will be okay.

A stranger approaches the old man. "Looks like you're having a problem," he says. The old man smiles sheepishly, and quietly nods his head. The stranger looks under the hood of the car, but he has no more expertise with engines than the old man.

He assures the elderly gentleman he will return and heads to a nearby service station. He explains the situation to a mechanic saying he will pay him if he would help the elderly couple with their car.

Returning with a mechanic, the stranger gets into a conversation with the old gentleman. The stranger is wearing a ring signifying that he had been a Marine. Coincidentally, so had the old man. He confides that he had served in some of the harshest battles in our nation's history, including Guadalcanal in Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps after the war.

After the car was repaired and running, the old gentleman handed a card to the stranger and shook hands and parted. Little while later the stranger happened to look at card and the name of the old gentleman was on the card in gold leaf and under his name was written: Congressional medal of honor Society. It was only then that the former Marine realized that he had come to the aid of one of America's heroes.

This, just a reminder that this Memorial Day weekend there are men and women who have served their country, and received very little in return. It is only right we recognize their sacrifice and honor their memory this holiday weekend. And with much sadness we hear of the scandal at the VA Hospitals across our country.

Our gospel for today is of a loving relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and how this relationship extends to all of humanity with a simple admonition: "if you love me, and keep my commands, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. With a further promise: I will not leave you as orphans; for I will come to you before long.

Another Story:

A man who underwent open-heart surgery told his friend about his experience. He said, "the day before surgery a nurse came into my room to visit she took hold of my hand and told me to feel it and to hold it."

"Now, she said, "during the surgery tomorrow you will be disconnected from your heart and you will be kept alive only by virtue of certain machines. When your heart is finally restored and the operation is over and you are recovering, you will eventually awaken and a very special room. You will be immobile for as long as six hours. You may be unable to move, or speak, or even to open your eyes, but you will be perfectly conscious. You will hear and you will know everything that is going on around you. During those six hours I will be at your side and I will hold your hand, exactly as I'm doing now. I will stay with you until you are fully recovered. Although you may feel absolutely helpless, when you feel my hand, you will know that I will not leave you."

It happened exactly as the nurse told me, the man continued. "I awoke and could do nothing. But I could feel the nurse's hand in my hand for hours and that made all the difference in the world.

Similarly this happen to me some months ago when getting up in the morning, attempting to get dressed I knew I was in trouble. I know I shouldn't use names, but in this case I feel it necessary. I called Connie and asked her to call Dr. Jim from next door and Maria Minette that I needed their help. In a very short time they came to my aid and stayed with me all morning. To say that I was and am grateful is an understatement, but much like the old man whose hand was being held by a nurse I felt their comfort, their concern and their love.

It does make a difference when someone comes along side us when we are in need. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. In some instances the Holy Spirit comes with power. At other times the Holy Spirit comes as a guide. But there are times when we need a friend, counselor, comforter. Then the Holy Spirit served in these capacities as well. But why did Jesus say, "I will give you another advocate."

The writer of John wants us to understand that the same Spirit that was in Christ is a Spirit that will be with us in our time of need. John is very clear that this is why Christ departed from this world so that his Spirit could be available to every person in this world who opens himself or herself to him. This is the importance of the Trinity. The same Spirit that created this world became flesh and Jesus Christ returns on the day of Pentecost to make available to every believer, with guidance, comfort, and empowerment, also for clarity of mission and for strength as we seek to be Christ's people. All this is wrapped up in that short phrase, "and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever."

You all be Good, Be holy and Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words!

---

'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

---

More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of Angels Church"

Related posts:

• "Memorial Day: War; Celebrating; Remembering; and Building a Better World"
  (May 26, 2014)
• "Called to Serve the Lord"
  (March 30, 2014)
• "Trinity Sunday: Our God is a Sharing God"
  (May 26, 2013)
• "Marching Through Time"
  (April 1, 2012)
• "Pentecost Sunday, 2009: A Reflection"
  (May 31, 2009)

Trinity Sunday: Our God is a Sharing God

Readings for May 26, 2013, Trinity Sunday:

• Proverbs 8:22-31
• Romans 5:1-5
• John 16:12-15

---

Trinity Sunday 2013

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 26, 2013

Keep in mind that God is family. As we begin in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

How often we have done this probably not giving it much thought, it's sort of like saying good morning to someone, it's quite automatic.

But that's the reason that today we celebrate the Holy Trinity Sunday. Today is a day set aside by the Church to remind us why we say these particular words.

The bottom line reasoning, is that, because that's who we are as a family of Faith. We need to be reminded of this reality because we easily forget that in all of human history, we are the unique Religious Community.

What makes our Faith so exceptional, so unique is the belief that our God is a family! Our God is a community of persons, a fellowship of Love that has burst forth in ecstasy to the point that St. Paul can say in the reading we heard today. "The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."

But this tells us about the God we believe in, that He is One, who is constantly communicating infinite love between the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit. Our God is a sharing God. A God who wants to invite us into becoming a similar community of love among ourselves. Our God, then, is a model for how we are to be, in relationship with one another.

The whole history of God loving us, wanting to save us from the worst of our own selves and bringing us into his Trinitarian family of love, is best highlighted by one word that is, communication.

In order to communicate, you and I speak. We use words. And more than ever, we come to realize that words mean something. God says in the Hebrew Scriptures, "I will be your God, and you will be my people." Then God comes to us in a new way in the New Testament, He speaks to us in a most definitive way possible: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Finally, then, he spoke to us through the Holy Spirit. After the resurrection, Jesus promised to send a Paraclete, Who will "lead you into the complete truth," as the gospel we heard today told us.

He will do that through the Church, through the Sacraments, through the Scriptures, through the love we show one another in our common pursuit of justice and compassion, through the Eucharist we are celebrating today as a family at this very Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

God is calling us as a church community, a family of faith, to be like him -- to be like the family that is the Trinity.

That's why we began every Mass and most of our prayer time, "In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit."

This weekend too: we call to mind all those who have gone before us with the hope that peace may be ours. Of course we know that the work of Christ is to bring peace for he laid down his life to reconcile us to one another and to the Father. He is the bridge, as C.S. Lewis's words remind us that Christ crosses the chasm between who we are and who God wants us to be. "Winston Churchill was honoring members of the Royal Air Force, guarded England during the Second World War. He recounted their brave service and he declared, "Never in the History of mankind have so many owed so much to so few."

A similar sentiment appears on a memorial plaque in Bastogne, Belgium. That is the location of the famous Battle of the Bulge, one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War II. The inscription, in honor of the US 101st Airborne Division, reads: "Seldom has so much American blood been shed in the course of a single action." "Oh, Lord, help us to remember!"

We need to remember the sacrifices of the soldiers, especially on this Memorial Day weekend, but even more important that we remember the Sacrifice that Christ made to earn permanent peace with ourselves with our neighbors and with our God. Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by Faith into His Grace in which we now stand."

In closing: a brief story about a man named Kurtis. He worked as a stock boy in the grocery store and fell in love with the young woman named Brenda he was 22 she was 26. He finally asked her for a date, she refused, so he asked her again. Coming to her home, once again, she says we cannot go out because I do not have a babysitter, but she lets him in and finds her with her little daughter and a son in a wheelchair, a paraplegic and with down Syndrome. He said, 'Well can't the four of us go out?'

He learned how to help care for the little boy, even how to take him to the bathroom. Time will not permit to tell the whole story but Kurt is better known as Kurt Warner who became the star quarter-back for many years for the St. Louis Rams. Kurt was declared most valuable player awarded by the NFL, as well as the MVP awarded by Super Bowl XXXIV. He is now retired but he is not retired from being a follower of Jesus Christ. If you ask Kurt Warner where he learned to love his family like this, he would unabashedly tell you that it is the Holy Spirit working in his life! Can we too, respond with, AMEN.

So you too, be Good, be Holy, preached the Gospel always and if necessary use words.

---

'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

---

More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of Angels Church"

Related posts:

• "Being Catholic on Memorial Day Weekend"
  (May 27, 2012)
• "How Could God Floss His Teeth?"
  (July 2, 2011)
• "I Don't Understand the Trinity: No Surprise There"
  (May 6, 2011)
• "Rambling About What 'Spirit' Means"
  (February 22, 2011)
• "Rambling on About Memorial Day, the Flag, and Snake Oil"
  (May 28, 2010)

Being Catholic on Memorial Day Weekend

Remember.

It's Memorial Day Weekend here in America. Among other things, this is the unofficial start of the summer vacation season; a time for remembrance, and a patriotic holiday.

Patriotism, Citizenship

According to a dictionary, "patriotic" means "inspired by love for your country." (Princeton's WordNet) I think it's possible to have a rational love of country, one that recognizes the faults and virtues of someone's homeland.

Another sort of 'patriotism,' one that involves hatred of folks who are different, has given the term a bad reputation in some circles. That sort of 'patriotism' is, I think, anything but rational. It's also contrary to what the Catholic Church says.

As a practicing Catholic, I'm not allowed to hate people: any people. It's simply not an option. (December 9, 2010)

On a more positive note, the Catholic Church says that I have to be a good citizen.

"It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2239)

That "submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good" does not mean that Catholics are supposed to blindly follow whatever daft order the nearest leader gives. We've got brains, and are expected to use them. (March 12, 2012)

The '60s, War, and Memorial Day

I spent my teens in the '60s, when quite a few Americans had gotten extremely upset about what was happening in Indochina. A few decades later, magazines for managers and executives used Washington's blunders in Vietnam as an example of why micromanagement is a really bad idea: and that's another topic.

Memorial Day started as a day to remember soldiers who died during the War Between the States/Civil War. The purpose and nature of the holiday has shifted since then, but the military roots remain.

When 'Being Nice' Doesn't Work

It would be nice if war never happened. Sadly, there are some folks who are very not-nice: and sometimes they decide to hurt other people on a grand scale. When that happens, the Church has guidelines for how to respond:

"The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

• "the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• "all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• "there must be serious prospects of success;
• "the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

"These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the 'just war' doctrine.

"The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2309)

Building a Better World

Maybe someday there will be a an "international authority with the necessary competence and power" to keep people who want to start wars from acting on that desire. (Catechism, 2308) We don't have that now, so national leaders are responsible for keeping their subjects safe.

Building a world where wars don't happen is going to take a lot of work, but I think it's worth the effort. I plan to be back tomorrow, with another post about making the world better.

Related posts:

• Memorial Day
  • "Memorial Day, 2010"
    (May 31, 2010)
  • "Memorial Day Weekend 2011"
    Another War-on-Terror Blog (May 28, 2011)
  • "Memorial Day: a Rather Official View"
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (May 30, 2010)
  • "Memorial Day Weekend, 2010: a Long Weekend - and Something Else"
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (May 29, 2010)
  • "Rambling on About Memorial Day, the Flag, and Snake Oil"
    (May 28, 2010)
• Citizenship and patriotism
  • "Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No"
    (March 12, 2012)
  • "Reason, Emotion, and 'Take These Son-of-a-Bitches Out' "
    (September 6, 2011)
  • "It's 'Patriot Dream,' Not 'Patriot Delusion""
    (July 4, 2011)
  • " 'Just War:' Unpleasant, but Not a Contradiction in Terms"
    (March 22, 2011)
  • "Citizenship, being Catholic, and the Rules of Polite Society"
    (March 22, 2011)

Memorial Day, 2010

I've posted about Memorial Day in another blog. Quite a lot, including:

• "Memorial Day Weekend, 2010: a Long Weeked - and Something Else"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (May 29, 2010)

Rambling on About Memorial Day, the Flag, and Snake Oil

Tomorrow is the start of Memorial Day weekend: an American holiday that's the unofficial start of summer. It's a weekend for outdoor grilling, enjoying that first weekend at the lake, checking out flea markets, and goofing off.

It's about something else, too - I'll get to that.

America has changed - a lot - in the half-century or so that I've been paying attention. That's nothing new. Like the fellow said, "Nothing endures but change." (Heraclitus, 540 BC - 480 BC)

For example, take this poem, called "Memorial Day." It was written about a century back. If you're an American, and were born after about 1970, you may never have read anything like this. Prepare for a shock:

Memorial Day

"Dulce et decorum est"

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie;
Flags wave above the honored dead And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel, They kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn Their strength, who lie beneath this sod,
Who went through fire and death to earn At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed They march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid, The Prince of Peace . . . Who brought a sword.
(from "Trees and Other Poems," by Joyce Kilmer [Alfred Joyce Kilmer, American (New Jersey & New York) Poet -- 1886-1918.], via EWTN)

That's definitely not the sort of thing that's considered 'sweet and honorable' these days. Not that being 'honorable' is something that proper people discuss in public. (One of my daughters had a head start in a college class: thanks to my discussion of the subject, she was the only one who had heard about the pre-Renaissance European concept of "honor.") I'm getting off-topic.

There's nothing particularly Catholic about America's Memorial Day holiday.

But I don't see why a practicing Catholic couldn't kick back and relax - or maybe even remember the ones who sacrificed so that we can kick back and relax. I've written about Memorial Day elsewhere:

• Apathetic Lemming of the North
  • "Memorial Day 2009"
    (May 25, 2009)
  • "Memorial Day 2008: This isn't 1965"
    (May 26, 2008)
  • "Memorial Day Weekend, 2008"
    (May 23, 2008)
• Brendan's Island
  • "Memorial Day"
• Sauk Centre Journal
  • Memorial Day 2007

Charlie Price and the Flag: With Friends Like These, You Don't Need Enemies

There's nothing particularly Catholic about this news item, either: But I think we can learn from it.

"Wisconsin Army Veteran Allowed to Keep Flag on Display"
FOXNews (May 28, 2010)

"...A Wisconsin Army veteran -- who faced eviction this week for flying the American flag -- will now be allowed to keep the flag up for as long as he wants.

"Under mounting nationwide protest, Charlie Price, 28, of Oshkosh, Wis., and officials at Midwest Realty Management struck a 'mutual agreement' that allows the veteran to continue displaying the patriotic symbol, according to a statement posted on the company's website on Thursday.

"Price and his wife, Dawn, 27, were previously told they had to remove the flag -- which hangs in a window inside the couple's apartment -- by Saturday or face eviction due to a company policy that bans the display of flags, banners and political or religious materials. ..."

I'm glad that Charlie Price can keep his flag in place. I can - sort of - see the company's point of view. They're just following the dominant culture's lead, putting 'divisive' things like religious beliefs where they belong (by the culture's standards): behind closed doors.

So far, so good. What disturbs me is some of the (support?) Mr. Price got:

"...'It means the world to me,' Price told FoxNews.com. 'The way it happened wasn't the right way because the staff members were getting threatened and we didn't want any violence out of this, but I'm glad we did come to a compromise.'

"Randy Rich, the apartment complex's property manager, told FoxNews.com that Midwest Realty Management received nearly 4,000 e-mails and thousands of phone calls in connection to the controversy.

" 'A few were questioning our policies and were civil in nature,' Rich wrote in an e-mail. 'However, most were filled with profanity and demeaning statements. Hundreds contained threats to our property, our employees and their families.

"Rich said a Facebook page created by Dawn Price contained personal information of some employees at the apartment complex that led to harassing messages. The company has asked her to remove that information since it 'has no bearing on this situation or her goal of changing the current flag legislation,' Rich's e-mail continued...."

With friends like that, you don't need enemies.

I'm not happy when someone expresses the hope that a Cardinal die a long and painful death. (May 27, 2010) I don't think vomiting hate on a rental company's staff is a good idea, either. At the very least, verbal attacks like that associate hate and malice with the ideas they're (presumably) defending.

That is - not - a - good - idea.

Sure, spitting on one of 'those people' or screaming insults may get you points in your little circle of acquaintances. But I doubt very much that it's going to make other folks take your ideas seriously.

Being Right, Acting Right

Decades ago, a group of well-intentioned (I trust) college students earned the disdain of the folks the were trying to "save." At the time, I made the crack that they went around in groups of three: two to hold the subject down, the third to shove a Bible down his or her throat. Sideways.

That's an exaggeration. They didn't use force. On the other hand, there wasn't much short of running away that would keep you from being 'witnessed' at. I had the impression that they operated on a quota system.

I suppose their hard-sell tactics may have won over a few of their fellow-students. But I don't think it was worth the way they associated Christianity with the sort of salesman who won't let you go until you buy something.

Then there are the folks who claim that if you follow Jesus, you'll get rich quick and have a big expensive house, wife, and car. I've mentioned the prosperity gospel before. Catholic versions of the same thing exist: like the notion that if you bury some saint's statue on your property it'll sell for a higher price.

No wonder some Americans assume that Christianity is some sort of spiritual snake oil.

Being "right" isn't enough. If you say, "I hope you die" to someone who doesn't agree with you: that person may understand that you think you're right. But seriously - if someone said that to you, would you be motivated to adopt the ideas of that person? No matter how much sense they might make, if presented reasonably?

Posts about dealing with differences:

• "Rape, Sex, and a Canadian Cardinal"
  (May 27, 2010)
• "Anger, Hate, Love, Prayer and Trashing a Maywood, California, Catholic School"
  (May 26, 2010)
• "A Social Worker, a Stubborn Latina, and Another Hispanic Baby"
  (May 21, 2010)
• "'Those Immigrants,' Assumptions, and the Catholic Church"
  (May 18, 2010)
• "Those Heretics May Not Like being Called Heretics"
  (May 16, 2010)
• "'Towelhead,' 'Retard,' and Talking Sense in a Global Society"
  Another War-on-Terror Blog (February 24, 2009)
  Particularly
  • An American Patriot Who's Okay With Turbans, NASCAR, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum