Some of us don’t remember why we have an annual memorial holiday. We look forward to the three-day weekend, planning outings and activities that include fun, food, family, and friends. We remember to get the burgers and dogs, buns, condiments, and paper products. We remember to make the iced tea–sweet and unsweet so everyone is happy. We remember to put the American flag out, and even remember to wear red, white, and blue to commemorate the day.
And yet, we forget the reason we celebrate Memorial Day. We forget about those who lost their lives in service to our country. We fail to acknowledge the families who still grieve for their sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and dear friends who gave their all so we might live in freedom.
Our focus is on the extended weekend, a kick-off to the summer.
Those of us who do remember celebrate at parades, tears welling up and streaming down our cheeks as veterans memorialize fallen comrades. High school bands play “Anchors Aweigh”, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” “The Wild Blue Yonder,” The Marine’s Hymn,” and “Semper Paratus.” We watch television specials and sob silently as men and women in uniform pay tribute to those who died in combat. We watch as family members who have recently lost loved ones tearfully comfort one another.
We celebrate with feasts and festivities. We gather with family and friends, grill our favorite meats and vegetables, and enjoy interacting with one another.
A day doesn’t seem nearly enough to celebrate and remember those who gave their lives so that we might live free.
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We’re a week away from another holiday, one which many of us don’t celebrate, or even know much about. That’s right, another holiday is coming up. It’s on the calendar every year. It is the Feast of Pentecost.
The first Pentecost, written in Acts, chapter two, was fifty days after Jesus resurrected. The apostles were gathered in the room above where they were staying. The eleven disciples, women, the mother of Jesus and his brothers were all there. As Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit fell on them while they gathered together and as they were filled with the Spirit they began to speak in the native tongues of many groups of people within earshot.
As the apostles reached out to folks that could hear them, many others began to receive the message and join the Christ followers. The Christian church began.
Over time, these folks reached out to others and the church grew. There were many, though, who didn’t want to hear the Good News. Nor did they want others to hear. They did all in their power to quench the message, to the point of killing the messengers. Stephen and James, son of Alpheus, were stoned; Peter and Andrew were crucified; James, brother of John, was beheaded; Philip was cruelly put to death; Thomas was pierced with spears; and, Paul was stoned and left for dead, imprisoned, and is recorded to have been killed by Nero.
Even today, estimates ranging from one to several thousand faith-related Christian deaths occur around the world every year. Many others are imprisoned because they stood up for their Christian beliefs.[i]
Men and women who took a stand, prepared to give their all—men and women who gave their lives. Fallen heroes. They spread the Good News, sharing the message of Jesus Christ who came to set us free.
Would you celebrate those lives with me? Although a day doesn’t seem enough, would you take a day with me to remember the men and women who stood up for their beliefs and spread the word so that we might know the truth, the truth that sets us free. We can gather with family and friends and feast on the Word of God.
Maybe we’ll call it Christian Commemorative Day!
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[i] Cathy Lynn Grossman, “2015 was ‘worst year’ for Christian persecution, says Open Doors, Religionnews.com, January 13, 2016, (accessed May 29, 2017)
and, Florence Taylor, “One Christian is martyred every five minutes, persecution watchdog reports,” Christiantoday.com, September 22, 2015 (accessed May 29, 2017)