Comment by Harborough churches: Remember those who have sacrificed so much for us

Viewpoint by Revd James Pickersgill, Team Vicar at St Dionysius Church

Sacrifice is a word that has been much used in the media over the past few months as nearly all of us have had to sacrifice or give up something valued for the sake of other people’s considerations and especially to protect other people’s health.

Many have sacrificed seeing loved ones, friends and family and the cost has been significant for many people. I have shared in a lot of people’s grief and pain in not being with loved ones who are unwell and especially those at the end of their lives.

A story of sacrifice in the media last week was of 26 year old nurse, Sette Buenaventura, who shrugged off persistent pain to continue working on the coronavirus front line, only to need her leg amputated after discovering a tumour. She said working as a nurse means 'you forget about your own pains because you’re busy helping other people... but everything comes at a cost'.

There have been many others who have paid the ultimate price for their dedication as well to whom we should be extremely thankful.

When Covid-19 was recently likened to a war, someone else said how ironic that people of previous generations had to leave their homes to fight a visible enemy where as most of us have been asked to stay at home to fight an invisible one.

As we think about sacrifice, this coming Saturday (August 15) is the 75 th Anniversary of VJ Day, marking both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War. With the end of the war in Asia and the Pacific, over a million servicemen and women from Britain and across the Commonwealth had to be demobilised and transported home.

It is vitally important that we remember this anniversary. Due to many historical, political, cultural and social reasons, many veterans of this conflict feel totally forgotten and undervalued, and are known as The Forgotten Army. Whilst due to current restrictions we are unable to gather publicly this weekend at our war memorials to do that, I hope we can each find a time and space to make our own reflection of those who sacrificed so much.

Sacrifice of course is at the heart of the Christian faith. In the Old Testament, the priests were the mediators between God and the people. Well known characters synonymous with sacrifice are Abraham, in offering his son Isaac before God lovingly intervened and Mary in willingly accepting God’s purposes.

Jesus, God’s precious Son, sacrificed his life for us all so that we may find fullness of life and hope. It is an invitation that we are invited to follow, putting others before ourselves. It may not always be easy for us, especially behind the visible and invisible masks we wear, but it means that our earthly sacrifices will never be in vain.

God “unmasks” himself to dwell with us in Jesus in whom we see the full extent of God’s love. Jesus sacrificed his life so that we could find hope in this life whatever we face, and enter a glorious inheritance in a future life. That is good news to remember at a time like this.

Revd James Pickersgill is Team Vicar at St Dionysius Church

For information about VJ remembrance see https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/vj-dayFor information about current church services and resources, see the individual websites of the churches, accessible via https://www.harboroughchurches.org.uk/