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Monday, August 21, 2006
Don't Forget
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
"Remember me," he said.
Jesus. At the table with his men for one last meal. We call it the Last Supper, Holy Communion.
Jesus picked up some bread, gave thanks, broke it up, and passed it around to the disciples. Then he blessed a cup of wine and passed it around as well.
"My body... my blood," he said. "Take, eat and drink... Remember me."
Then, within hours, came all the bad stuff in quick succession: betrayal, arrest, kangaroo court trials, and crucifixion -- his bleeding body hung out to die in public shame and agony. How strange that we call that horrible day Good Friday.
And his disciples did remember him. Telling and retelling his story, and their own along with it.
Imagine the banter about their memories when they'd get together for happy hour...
"Remember the night Peter actually walked on the water during that storm on the lake? Well, for a couple of steps anyway. Until he realized, 'Hey, I can't walk on water!' And then he sank out of sight!"
"Yeah, and how 'bout when Jesus told that great parable and Peter didn't get it?" Quick chorus: "Again!!"
"Okay," says Peter. "I'm not the only dense one here. James and John, what nickname did Jesus give them? 'Sons of Thunder,' for God's sake! Cuz they got so mad at the bad guys they wanted God to throw down lightning bolts from heaven at 'em."
"Remember the time we shooed away those pesky kids, but Jesus stopped us, and then he huddled with them to tell some stories? Then he listened to them like they were the teachers!"
"Speaking of kids, what about that boy with the two little fishies and five rolls, and how Jesus broke 'em up over and over again, till finally 5,000 people got fed in one sitting?!"
Then the chatter shifts, the chuckling stops. And they remember...
"On our last night together he broke that bread and passed that cup, so each of us would never forget that meal. And what it stood for. Broken body, shed blood... He was ready to go that far for us! Because he loved us, man! He loved us. And that's how much he wanted us to love each other, and the whole wide world."
"Right. Right. And that's the reason we're still in the disciple business. We'll never stop telling his stories as long as there's anyone who hasn't heard them yet."
That's exactly why I'm writing this to you this day.
I'm remembering key moments when Jesus' loving kindness came alive for me. In the Bible's stories. In a dream or an enchanted moment. More often than not in a friend's kind words, caring expression, or supportive touch.
And I'd like you to do the same. Take some time today to let memory do its good work. With any luck, you'll flash right back to the scene, reliving your blessed past. On top of that, you'll find what happened back then is right here, right now, renewing your heart and mind this very day.
Remember. Remember. Never ever forget.
posted by Jack Buckley at
12:18 PM
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