News

ANZAC Day is the principle memorial occasion in our national life. Perhaps this year it will resonate across the nation in an even deeper way than usual.

The ANZAC legend and the values associated with the early ‘diggers’ have been a guiding light to successive generations of service personnel and the entire nation. In difficult times, when we go looking for that underlying sense of who we are as a nation, when what is needed is the willingness to make sacrifices for others, we earth back to the spirit of ANZAC.

ANZAC Day reminds us of our history and of how our identity was formed, not through victory in battle, but through perseverance and mateship under extreme conditions.

This year is poignant because the coronavirus reminds us of the 1918 Spanish Flu that spread across the globe as soldiers returned from the conflict in Europe. What a terrible irony that some would survive such horror only to die from influenza.

Perhaps no more characteristic of the spirit of ANZAC is the quote from Scripture “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (NIV) (John 15:13). The quote originally referred to Jesus giving himself to save the world from its own sins. It was easily borrowed when the ANZACS engaged in a conflict against forces intent on destroying the ideals of life and freedom so central to Western democracy and its Judeo-Christian ethical foundation.

The developments in armaments were to transform battle into unthinkable carnage. The price paid in sons and daughters in that war and all since is certainly deserving of this memorial day in reverie, “lest we forget”. May it cause us all to consider what the suffering was for and what our defense personnel have been defending for over a century now – this privileged way of life.

The association of wartime sacrifices with the symbol of Christ’s death are very strong in our tradition. The fact is that it’s not in our nature to honour either their sacrifice or His with our every breath and deed. How thankful I am that the message of Christ is of the faultless dying for the ungrateful and unworthy.

For me, the Sunday morning walk to the Communion rail is a ‘lest we forget’ moment – when sorrow at my selfishness will give way in wonder at Christ’s immense love and forgiveness. The Bread and the Wine break the silence like Reveille, lest we forget that the sacrifice of Christ did not end in death. With Him and in Him we are awakened to the gift of our Risen Saviour – the sure and certain hope of life that triumphs over death forever.

Finally, here at FamilyVoice Australia we are encouraging families, Sunday schools and students to explore the often-overlooked meaning of Anzac Day, with its strongly Christian symbolism.

Please click here to enjoy our Anzac Day resources.