Forgive Us Our Sins

Jesus said to his disciples, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.  It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  Be on your guard!  If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'  you should forgive him."

This reading is about sin.   Today is Veteran’s Day, and we should ask all men and women in our Armed Forces (past and present) to forgive us our sins – the sins of sending them into unjust wars and impossible-to-resolve conflicts around the world.   We seek their forgiveness for taking them for granted and sending them into combat with unclear objectives and no definition of success.   Too many men and women have returned with the wounds of war and unending conflict – physical and psychological wounds that are difficult or impossible to heal.

Our political leaders using our armed forces as pawns in international affairs should have milestones put around their necks and be thrown into the sea for causing our military to unintentionally sin through drone killings of unarmed civilians, especially women and children.   The depths of the sea are appropriate places for leaders accepting casualties and maiming’s of service men and women and civilians as the cost of U.S. diplomacy and needed goods (such as oil) and services bolstering our country’s economy and their own and lobbyists’ coffers. 

Many thanks to our veterans!  Please forgive us our sins!

Deacon David Pierce