Remember Me

A challenge for many of us is to remember people, places, and things especially from our past.  Many of us have direct experience with loss of memory caused by the ageing process we all experience to one extent or another.  

Our memories are precious, but some are not very pleasant, and we would like to erase them. Our lives are not always easy, all peaches and cream. Nevertheless, remembering the good and not so good is important to our overall health, well-being, our humanity, and our connection to the suffering servant we call Christ.

Moreover, we all want those we love to remember us when we are separated from them in space and time, and certainly after our deaths. With that in mind, I remind everyone of the Disney-Pixar 2017 movie called “Coco” and its memorable song: “Remember me.” Many of us likely have not seen it, and if not, give it a look; you’ll like it. Ask Alexa to play the song.

The main message of the movie is the importance of family. The love of the family is unconditional and forever. We should never stop loving them even after death. We should never stop talking about them to the next generation. If children ask what happens when someone dies, the message is that we remember them, because memory is life. The lyrics are:

Remember me

Though I have to say goodbye 

Remember me 

Don't let it make you cry 

For even if I'm far away 

I hold you in my heart 

I sing a secret song to you 

Each night we are apart 

Remember me 

Though I have to travel far 

Remember me 

Each time you hear a sad guitar

 

Know that I'm with you 

The only way that I can be 

Until you're in my arms again 

Remember me

Remembering is a very important part of our Mass – of our faith. For example, Jesus said at the Last Supper: remember me through my body and my blood. This was highlighted during the recent National Eucharistic Revival in Indianapolis held to help restore or strengthen our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. 

I suggest an expanded approach and understanding of the Eucharist beyond personal grace and salvation. During Mass and the Eucharistic Prayer we hear: At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying. take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

We are to remember his sacrifice for us, that his body was given up for us; that his blood was shed for us – poured out for us. Therefore, we must remember to give up our body for others; we are to pour out our blood on behalf of others through our love and sacrifice.

When we receive the Eucharist, we are to remember we are the Body of Christ; requiring us to love each other as Jesus loved and still loves us. We are to do to others as we would have them do to us. We must never lie or betray. The oaths we swear must be honored. We must be grounded in love, service, nonviolence, and non-domination. We must become the bearer of the power we have received.

We are to remember today’s reading from the Book of Proverbs by forsaking foolishness and advancing in the way of understanding. We do the same when we refuse to act like stupid fools being deceived by charlatans, scam artists, and liars so as to do their bidding.

We are to remember to be like Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead. We do the same when we forgive those who have hurt us. They are no longer dead to us and in tombs of regret, sorrow, and heartache.

We are to remember Jesus exorcised demons. Jesus would want us to do the same especially to drive out from inside of us those demons that promote racism, religious bigotry, political extremism, and hating and hurting our neighbors.

We are to remember Jesus was a Jew as was his mother, disciples, and his first followers.  Just watch The Chosen.  Are they not Jews? Therefore, Jesus would want us to vigorously oppose antisemitism in all its demeaning and anti-Christ forms. Jesus was not a white Christian as painted in so many pictures. He was an olive-skinned, Middle Eastern man – a Jew.

We are to remember that Jesus was about love, relationship, non-judgment, and forgiveness, where the last shall be first and the first shall be last. We remember Jesus when we follow his way.

There is more than we can possibly remember, but this short list of memories suggests there is more to receiving the Eucharist than meets the eye.  

Helping us remember is that song from the movie Coco: We remember he is with us – The only way that he can be – Until we’re in his arms again = Remember him

This song dovetails very nicely with one of our hymns that sings: We remember how you loved us to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.

Deacon David Pierce