Memory is a
strange thing once you start to look into it. A memory isn’t so much stored, as
shaped and imagined.
In fact, every
time we remember something, we’ve created it again, we’ve made something new.
There is no solid real memory of an event, only our creative re-interpretation
and reflection upon that event.
Scientist have used this insight,
memories get re-made every time we remember them, to short circuit the process
in lab rats, thus destroyed particular rat memories forever
—in fact a
similar process is currently being used to heal some soldiers with PTSD.
So, in a sense,
the only memories we have are reflections upon our previous memory of the thing
—we can only
remember what we last remembered,
each time we
remember we’ve created a whole new memory.
And this makes a certain amount of
sense when you think about it, when you get caught, fixating on one memory,
doesn’t it grow, becoming bigger than the original event? You end up saying
something stupid, no one else remembers it, but it dogs you for days, because
you keep re-creating it.
I bring this up, not because I want to
talk to you about neuroscience, I have a feeling the children’s movie “Inside
Out” could do a better job than I,
but instead I
bring up the issue of memory, because
Maundy Thursday is all about remembering.
We’re remembering,
re-membering,
putting together
again,
a new collective
memory every time we do this! Adding to the memory of what it means
to be People of
God,
to be forgiving
people,
to be foot washing
people,
to be holy meal together
people.
Tonight, we remember!
Prayer
Tonight,
we remember.
This whole night, is memory.
Tonight as I say the words of
institution, for this Danny and Gianna’s first communion, we’ll be remembering Paul’s words… they
themselves a memory…
Paul remembering Jesus’ last meal, Jesus’ last meal remembering the Passover meal.
Passover, a meal of remembrance, remembering the Israelite’s flight out of Egypt to freedom.
Each of these memories, putting it all
together again,
each of these
meals, shifting and holding onto what it means to be God’s faithful people
—re-making our
collective memory every time we do it!
Remembering who
we are again, and yet for the first
time,
because it’s a
whole new memory each time!
Remembering
the escape from Egypt
—we are slaves
and we are wanderers,
so we will
neither enslave, nor mistreat the migrant in our midst.
Remembering
Jesus’ last meal
—He models for us Love.
The love Jesus
saw Mary model for him when she
wiped his feet in preparation for his burial.
He models for us Love, giving us an example, a physical one
—one we can remember
—who will soon forget someone messing with your feet!
He models what
it means to love one another, being friends with one another in such a way that
our hands are wet with each other’s muck!
He models the
love of a leader
—intimate
service leads the way!
Remembering
Paul’s words
—his memory of what Christ does—what this
meal is!
He reminds us, like the Corinthian
community—that we so often forget to
check our social difference at the door…
that we expect
what goes on in here in our life together to cling too closely to our culture.
He reminds us, that dividing the table, in any way, by class and cash, like the
Corinthians,
or by race, or
gender, sexual orientation or political proclivities, is beyond the pale!
All kneel before
the altar,
all receive body
and blood
—all proclaim
Christ given over for our sake.
Remembering…
remembering here together…
remembering this night who we are,
re-creating our
collective memory as People of
God!
Remembering
our first communion
—forming one of
our earliest memories of our Life
Together
—a memory, Gianna and Danny,
that I hope you
will return to time and time again,
that you will
cultivate,
that we… take a moment to look at the people around
you here tonight
—that we all
together create, and in so doing become the Body of Christ for this night,
this year,
this generation.
Tonight, we remember.
