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Memorial Day and the Spirit of Sacrifice and Generosity

Memorial Day and the Spirit of Sacrifice and Generosity

Last updated on: May 26, 2024 at 4:49 pm by Bruce Epperly

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Memorial Day and the Spirit of Sacrifice and Generosity 2024-05-26T16:49:11-04:00 Bruce Epperly

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I was raised in small town America, where Memorial Day meant parades, flag waving, flowers at the cemetery, and honoring of those who died in service to our nation. It was the Eisenhower era and we were patriotic, but not jingoistic. We loved our nation, but we recognized that others loved their nations as well. We waved the flag and affirmed that America was at its best when we worked together for a common cause that transcended our race and religion. We were “cold warriors” but wanted to prevent war. Our politicians were fallible, but we expected dignity and decency, and fair-mindedness, from our leaders. We recognized that often there were two sides to every issue, and prized civility over bluster and bullying. Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, referred to one another as the “loyal opposition.”

Our elders reminded us of the sacrifices of two World Wars and Korea and knew that citizenship meant sacrifice as well as freedom. Building on their sacrifices, we were challenged to sacrifice for the realization of “liberty and justice for all.” While the extent of liberty was often limited and there was racism, both in Jim Crow America and in housing and the GI Bill, there was also a spirit of generosity to immigrants and refugees.

In considering Memorial Day, I reflect on the significant characteristics of those upon whom we depend – parents, grandparents, peacemakers, and peacekeepers. I would go so far as to say that sacrifice is one of primary characteristics of caregivers and protectors and that sacrifice is built into the nature of reality, or at least what it means to live a good life. We let go of certain things, so that greater things may come to pass. We defer gratification, so that others might flourish. We live simply so that others might simply live. We give up our time – and maybe even our lives – to protect the innocent and vulnerable. We grow beyond self-interest and individualism to care for the community and embrace world loyalty.

Essential to healthy community, sacrifice is built into the graceful interdependence of life. Contrary to Ayn Rand’s rugged and metaphysically implausible individualism or the radical individualism privileged by white nationalists and the Church of Trump, every achievement an individual makes is grounded in the sacrifices of others; some are sacrifices freely chosen, while others are tragically forced (for example, sweat shops and slavery).

In the Christian vision, sacrifice is essential to the wellbeing of the “body of Christ,” described in I Corinthians 12. The various parts consciously – and I want to underline the word “consciously” or “willingly” – choose to place their own wellbeing in relationship to the wellbeing of the whole body. The various parts find their wholeness in supporting the wholeness of the totality, which in turn nurtures each individual part. Here we are not talking about co-dependence or masochistic behavior but willingness to expand (and sometimes sacrifice) our vision of our wellbeing to include the wellbeing of the wider world, whether it is our family, congregation, country, or the planet.

Jesus proclaimed that there is no greater love than giving one’s life for another. This isn’t a matter of seeing Jesus or ourselves as being scapegoats, although there is much wisdom in the work of Girard and his followers; but a deeper recognition of one’s responsibility to sacrifice so that others may experience safety, joy, growth, and abundant life. Jesus followed the way of the cross, when other alternatives were possible, I believe, as a working out of his vocation and choice to affirm his calling so that we might have abundant life. Jesus’ sacrifice was neither compelled by God nor predestined but emerged from the alignment of his vision and will with God’s vision for abundant life for all creation.

Memorial Day has traditionally been about sacrificial living. Beginning first in the years following the Civil War, Memorial Day commemorated those who died in this tragic conflict. After World War I, Memorial Day was expanded to include all who died in service to their country. Initially, just military graves were decorated with flowers. However, over the years, many people have chosen to decorate the graves of loved ones – fathers, mothers, children, brothers, and friends – on Memorial Day. This was an acknowledgement that “greater love” has many dimensions that go beyond military sacrifice.

While Memorial Day is a national holiday, it has profound spiritual lessons for us and invites us to deeper loyalties, even beyond nation and family. It is about sacrifice and love of family and nation, not chauvinism and violence. If Memorial Day has a place in the liturgies or worship services of the church, its place is to inspire gratitude and remembrance for those who have sacrificed life and labor, and time, talent, and treasure, for the greater good.

Regardless of your political and religious views of military service and just warfare, I believe that it is appropriate to remember fallen soldiers and first responders in Christian worship on Memorial Day weekend. The spiritual dimension of their sacrifice is that they looked beyond their own self-interest, even as they climbed the steps of the World Trade Center, protected our Capitol on January 6 from misguided and anti-democratic insurrectionists, or guard our nation’s coastline or skies. In saying “yes” to their vocation, they knew it might place them in harm’s way. In fact, the heroes of January 6 are still suffering the after effect of violence and abuse. We also affirm the sacrifice of civil rights marchers, advocates for hospitality to refugees, and doctors and nurses who place themselves in harm’s way that people in war-torn lands receive medical care.

Memorial Day affirms the impact of our “good ancestors” on our lives and challenge to be “good ancestors in the making.” The sacrificial love remembered on Memorial Day is about vocation and choice, rather than co-dependence or aggrandizement. As we look at the vocation of those who sacrifice on our behalf, we are challenged to go beyond our individualism, narcissism, consumerism, and self-interest – and this may even include “American exceptionalism” or “America first” ideologies as well as Christian nationalism and capitalistic individualism – to embrace the wellbeing of others, including the planet. We can celebrate our nation’s fallen heroes without being nationalistic. In fact, we must go beyond nation to balance patriotism with world loyalty and sacrifice largess and convenience for the healing of the planet.

Memorial Day is about remembering, and then dedicating our own lives to a larger, greater good for those we love, our nation – and this may mean protesting against military action, injustice, and enmity to immigrants – and the planet as a whole. Shouting “drill, drill, drill” and rolling back environmental standards for the sake of profit and tax reform that favors the wealthy demeans the sacrifices of those who went before us and threatens the future of our children and grandchildren. Restrictions on voting and election disinformation destroy the foundations of democracy. Demonizing immigrants, documented or undocumented, threatens the soul of our nation. Sacrifice, not self-interest, is the heart of Memorial Day. Hospitality and not hate is the pathway to greatness for persons and nations.

As you ponder Memorial Day, take time to ask the following questions: What sacrifices are you called to make for the greater good – in your family, among your circle of friends, and in your congregation, community, and nation? What sacrifices are you called to make for the vulnerable people in our land and across the globe? What sacrifices are you called to make for this good earth? How will you look beyond your own well-being to ensure the well-being of other peoples’ children, persons with medical risks, law-abiding immigrants, refugees and the flora and fauna of our planet? How will you commit yourself to preserving the gifts of democracy and diversity? This is the meaning of Memorial Day.

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Bruce Epperly is a pastor, professor, and author of over eighty books, “Jesus: Mystic, Healer, and Prophet,” “Process and Politics,” Spirituality, Simplicity, and Service: The Timeless Wisdom of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure,” and “The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism.” His most recent book is “The God of Tomorrow: Whitehead and Teilhard on Metaphysics, Mysticism, and Mission” and “Head, Heart, and Hands: An Introduction to St. Bonaventure.”

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