Over and over, Scripture calls us to remember. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are constantly challenged to remember that God rescued them from Egypt. It is the event that reminds them they are chosen and loved by God.In the New Testament, we are called to remember the Lord through the celebration of the Eucharist. “Do this in memory of me,” Jesus says as the elements are consecrated, blessed and shared.Of course, we are called to remember far more than meetings and deadlines. We are called to remember who we are — individuals and communities loved and protected by God. We easily forget that God loves us unconditionally, that God rescues us, and that God died for us. When we forget these things, we revert to living by fear and self-protection.Honestly, I am no better at remembering God’s presence in my life than I am at remembering people and commitments. I so easily forget that God is there for me, at work for my good even while I flail away trying to frantically control my own life. The celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ is a call to remember like no other. We are called to remember Christ in the Eucharist as we are every Sunday, but we are also called to remember the importance of the Eucharist in our lives. How do I improve my memory? Maybe I should tie a string around my finger so that when I look at it,I remember to pray rather than panic. Maybe I should put Post-It notes on my bathroom mirror to remind me that God is in control, not me. When I look back on my life, I can see how God has steered and directed my life, and been so faithful even when I was faithless. Yet when I look to the future, I am often more apprehensive than optimistic. Remembering God’s faithfulness is good for our faith — whether we are looking at ancient history or recent events. It is not a matter of living in the past but of empowering our present. When we remember God’s unconditional love, and recount the events of our history and our lives that are evidence of this love, we have the confidence to move forward. We are better able to live with joy and freedom rather than with fear and anxiety.Remembering the Body and Blood of Christ invites us to re-experience God’s presence in our lives and in our world. The presence of Christ is made real each time we celebrate Mass. Our challenge is to live this truth and reality each moment.Bill Peatman writes from Napa. He may be reached at [email protected] are called to remember Christ in the Eucharist as we are every Sunday, but we are also called to remember the importance of the Eucharist in our lives.
