On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the naval base in Hawaii. It was the worst attack on American soil of the 20th century. The attack demolished all US resistance to entering World War 2 and this country plunged into war across the Atlantic and the Pacific.
This past week, US vice president Joe Biden visited Asia engaging in discussions about foreign policy and foreign relations. Part of Biden’s agenda was protecting the interests of the US and its allies, chief among them, Japan. That’s quite a commitment when you remember Pearl Harbor. China and Japan have been at odds for centuries and the tensions continue. Japan attacks the US and just decades later, we are tightly linked as allies. It truly is remarkable that the US is able to have this kind of relationship with Japan today.
When we look at Europe, we see more surprising alliances. In fact, the entire European Union is an amazing leap in the direction of harmony and peace. Today we think of Western Europe as one big, happy family. They use the same currency. They cross borders without passports. These countries, within the lifetime of many alive today, were the most bitter of enemies with conflicts going back generations upon generations.
May Pearl Harbor be a reminder for us of how far the international community has come. And may that inspire us to make the sacrifices necessary to increase the peace in the world.
Always strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one can see our God. See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace, and that no bitter root starts growing, causing trouble and spreading defilement as it grows.
Hebrews 12:14-15
Prayer: May peace prevail on earth. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 