Greater Love Has No Man Than To Lay Down His Life For His Friends (John 15:13)

Presented to the community of Nipawin at the Remembrance Day Ceremony, November 11, 2007, and to the community of Swift Current at the Remembrance Day Ceremony, November 11, 2009 and 2012
by Captain Michael Ramsay (Padre, Royal Canadian Legion #56)

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, almost 200 years ago now, 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, some of whom are here today, who headed overseas again, in what is remembered now as World War II, in service to God, King, and country to lay down their lives for their friends. Many of us have friends and family who marched out of Saskatchewan here to offer their lives up for their friends. My uncle from Silver Stream never spoke of the day they were surrounded by the Germans until he died a couple of years ago.

My own grandfather returned home to Saskatchewan from California when war broke out so that he could serve God, King and country in the war. He eagerly grabbed some friends from Cut Knife and they drove over the Rockies to enlist. Not all of them that enlisted that day with my grandfather, I believe, lived to see the end of the war.

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

The Salvation Army and other volunteers were present in both these wars – in the trenches -offering both support and the love of God to the soldiers.

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

At the conclusion of the Second World War some allies turned foes and some foes turned friends in the Cold War that ensued and 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. We remember these heroes here today.

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

As this cold war progressed, Canadians continued to stand beside our allies but we also donned blue berets for the first time, intentionally standing between warring factions, some with legitimate grievances, protecting and reconciling populations, and still offering our lives for our friends. We are here to remember them today.

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 friends and 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 our friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, and our veterans. Thank you.

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 has laid down his life for us his friends. Many of our servicemen and women, whom we remember today, have laid down their lives for us, their friends.

And today our soldiers continue to fight for our friends. Today we are still fighting for peace and today 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 their will be no more need for tears or for brave young men and women lay down their lives for their friends.

Today we are here to remember those who have laid down their lives for us, their friends.

Let us pray.

“Thank you Lord for the sacrifice of all those who have served this country in the wars of the 20th Century and beyond. Thank you that they, like you, died so that we may live. Thank you that they offered their lives for us. Let us not forget. Amen.