This Saturday is Veterans Day.

In the 11th month, at the 11th minute of the 11th hour, in the year of our Lord 1918, the First World War, the war to end all wars, ended. 

We pause on Nov. 11 to remember and give thanks for our veterans whenever and wherever they served, for our freedoms, which they defended and to again pray for peace.

As we know, however, the war to end all wars, did not.

War continues in various forms to this day and as the events in Texas this past Sunday remind us, there are events in the world which seem at a distance, and then there are events which are more immediate and leave us troubled as we consider the world around us and wonder, “Where is God?”

Still, there is hope and there are times and places where the kingdom breaks forth. We see glimpses of this in our lives.

Sunday during our worship in our church, we were alive with the Spirit. 

Today, I took donated food to the food pantry, tutored at Good Shepherd with several others and visited with someone who needed help and seemed relieved when I could steer them toward Mountain of Faith ministries.

There is much good in the world.

Recently while cooking, I was listening to some Simon and Garfunkel songs and one that came up is a rendition of Silent Night with the music and lyrics combined with news headlines, all dealing with war and violence and sadness and not so different from the news today. 

I listened to this again tonight and realized, the lyrics, the words to Silent Night, were stronger, were dominant over the news headlines. Silent Night overshadowed the world.

Veterans Day is not the only day we remember veterans and Christmas is not the only day we remember incarnation, God with us.

This same earth, which has seen suffering again, has seen the footprints of Christ and we have heard his words. In our lives we strive to follow those same steps and remember those lessons of peace and justice and reconciliation whatever is going on about us.

In the Prayer Book, the section of prayers for the world includes prayers for peace and for our enemies. Today, I share them both: 

A Collect for Peace: Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. Amen

A Collect for our Enemies: O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Rev. Sam Godfrey is rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Vicksburg.