Memorial Day memories, and what we remember on the day before

By Mark A. Taylor

Memories are a good thing, and they seem even more important as we get older. Witness the delight as cousins repeat old stories about favorite relatives at a family-reunion picnic. Notice the frustration of an adult past 50 who can’t bring to mind the name of her neighbor’s husband or the phone number she used to dial without looking.

We may chuckle at a comedian’s take on this: “As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two.”

But forgetting is not funny, and almost anyone needs help remembering some things some times. A child may forget the efforts of those who worked hard to make their life full. A nation may forget the abuses that formed a foundation for current distrust between races. One generation may take for granted its freedom and prosperity and forget that many fought and died to make it possible.

Memory encouraged

And so we devise means to encourage memory. Communities erect statues and engrave plaques to honor war heroes and historical events. Families plant trees or place gravestones to help future generations remember loved ones now deceased.

And nations declare holidays just to nurture remembering. That’s the drive behind Memorial Day in the U.S., whose original purpose was to remember those who fell in the Civil War, but now has grown to lift up the memory of every American who has fought in any war. Their number is larger than we can grasp. It’s good that the calendar calls us to remember them.

Some of us will actually do that, with treks to cemeteries, or participation in parades, or listening to a Memorial Day speech.

The fact that many will largely ignore the purpose of Memorial Day and simply enjoy a day off for fun is one more reminder of how easy it is to forget. And that realization brings us to another event designed to prod the memory.

Memory unequaled

I’m speaking of Communion, the regular celebration by Christians of the sacrificial death of Jesus 20 centuries ago. Like Memorial Day observances, Communion can devolve into rote tradition or a hurried duty. (We sit through the speech at the courthouse if it will be finished before our picnic. We’re given a couple minutes to gulp down the Communion emblems so there’s plenty of time for the sermon.)

Here’s a prediction: At many Communion observances in America tomorrow, the presider will make a comparison between our remembering on Memorial Day and at Communion. There’s merit in that. But we also do well not so much to compare the two as to contrast them.

More than a hero

There’s a temptation to think of Jesus as another martyr in the same category with other heroes we’ve seen. This is natural, because we know about heroes. Memorial Day and all the war movies we’ve watched have embedded in our minds the image of soldiers sacrificing their lives for all the folks back home. It’s a vision we shouldn’t forget.

But to grasp the true greatness of what God did for us at Calvary, to understand the depth and breadth of Christ’s sacrifice, we must understand that he is more than the bravest war hero we know.

• On Memorial Day we appropriately honor these heroes. But at Communion we worship our Lord.
• On Memorial Day we remember many who gave their lives for some. At Communion we remember One who gave his life for everyone.
• On Memorial Day we recall those who died. At Communion we praise the One who lives after he died.
• On Memorial Day we read the names of those who paid a price to fight the evil of their time. At the Lord’s Table we lift up the name of him who bore the penalty for every sin throughout the ages.  
• On Memorial Day we speak of soldiers’ physical suffering. At Communion we acknowledge the Savior’s spiritual agony.
• On Memorial Day individuals remember individuals, each of us lifting up the memory of some. At Communion we repeat the name above all names, known forever by the masses.
• On Memorial Day we remember the sacrifices of the past. At the Lord’s Table we celebrate the certainty of our future.

Indeed, to remember is a good thing. But it’s important to honor the whole truth, the complete story, the total purpose. This is our opportunity, not just at one national holiday, but also every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Photos by Mark Duffel and Nico Smit on Unsplash

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