Summary: Resolutions have us relying on our own courage and willpower and almost always result in failure. Memorials remind us of God’s interventions on our behalf and inspire us for the future.
Scripture focus: Joshua 4:1-7; Psalm 22:1-7, 9-11, 22-31 (responsive); Mark 14:22-31
Date: Sunday, 3 January 2010 (Austral Church of Christ) and Sunday, 2 January 2005 (Hurstville Church of Christ)
Celebrating Milestones & Calling
I have a favourite scene from the 1994 movie, Forrest Gump, which I believe is an honest representation of many a person’s thoughts on New Year’s Eve. Forrest has teamed up with his former commanding officer, Lt. Dan, to celebrate New Year’s Eve at a New York City pub. Once there they meet up with two attractive young ladies, one of which delivers the following line as the bell tolls in the new year:
Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over … Everybody gets a second chance. (Lenore character, Forrest Gump)
At the beginning of each new year, we are encouraged by popular culture to make resolutions for bettering ourselves —mostly by corporations hawking their self-help products. The problem is that resolutions encourage us to forget the past and to move ahead without wisdom.
Memorials, on the other hand, remind us of God’s past action and inspire us for the future.
A definition of memorials: “that which keeps alive the memory of someone or something ([derived from the word for] ‘mindful’)”.1 A memorial can be just about anything and feature quite prominently in the Bible.
Contemporary Examples
1. Some interesting “wonders” were placed in a time capsule and buried at the 1964-65 World’s Fair: a bikini bathing suit, credit cards, an electric toothbrush, tranquillising pills, detergent, a guide to the English language, a recording by the Beatles, and many other products of twentieth-century culture.2
2. Perhaps one of the world’s strangest monuments, at Barton, Lincolnshire, UK, commemorates a fierce hailstorm which occurred on July 3, 1883. The inscription reads: “In memory of the great hailstorm at Barton, July 3, 1883, 10:30 to 11pm. Ice 5 in. long, 3 in. wide —15 tons of glass broken— ice weighed 2½ oz.”
The monument is built of bricks which were newly-made and still hardening at the time of the storm. They bear the deep indentations made by the hailstones.
3. The Swamp United Church of Christ, at Ephrata, Pennsylvania, USA, celebrated the appearance of a strange lightning bolt 18 years ago. According to Evangelical Press news service, it seems that when circuit-riding preacher John Waldschmidt died in 1786, his wife became a demented deaf mute. During a church service six years later, lightning struck the cemetery outside. Upon investigation, say church records, the shocked congregation discovered that the bolt had split Waldschmidt’s tombstone in two —and that the widow was healed the same instant.
Scriptural Examples
The rainbow, a reminder that God would never again destroy the world by a flood (Gen 9:13-16)
The Passover, a reminder that the blood of a lamb saved sinners from judgment (Ex 12:11-14)
The Sabbath, a reminder of a completed creation (Deut 5:15)
Twelve stones, a reminder of God’s mighty power in bringing Israel across the Jordan into Canaan (Josh 4:7)
The manna in the Ark of the Covenant, a reminder of God’s supernatural provision in the desert (Ex 16:32)
The Feast of Tabernacles, a reminder of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Lev 23:39-43)
The anointing of Jesus’ head and feet by Mary, the sister of Lazarus, a reminder of Mary’s devotion to Christ (Matt 26:6-13; Jn 12:1-7)
The Lord’s Supper, a reminder of the broken body and shed blood of Christ (Lk 22:19)
The Lord’s Supper as Memorial
Ancient Jews ate two meals: breakfast and supper. A short prayer or blessing, known as the berakah, was offered before eating, as when Jesus blessed the bread when He fed the multitude (Matt 14:19). Berakah means “to bless”, in Hebrew. The berakah was given at the beginning of table meals (with wine and bread) and at the end (with wine only).
The opinion of liturgists, regarding the sacrament that we call Communion, suggests that the last supper of Jesus was likely a normal Jewish meal and that his ‘institution’ of the ritual arose out of this common practice of the berakah prayer.
The berakah was always spoken as thanksgiving to God, remembering the events in which God had acted on behalf of the community (i.e. the Passover). According to the Mishnah, “nothing is eaten without giving thanks to God” (paraphrase).
What Are Your Memorials?
As individuals: Joëlle’s footprints pic; Maple Leaf hat for Canada Day or Aussie flag cape for Australia day; others??
As a community: Girls’ Brigade 50th; birthdays; Easter; others??
Something to Think About
Memorials are a cause for joy and celebration, which are hallmarks of the Christian life (Gal 5:22; Ps 16:11; Isa 56:7, Ps 100:2).
Memorials grant wisdom because they encourage us to learn from the past — wisdom is a sign of maturity (Eph 4:11-13).
Memorials strengthen our self-identity, draw us together as a community, and provide a public focus for our witness (Matt 5:16).
Do we have a cause to celebrate? Or a significant event worth remembering?
Are we growing closer to God in faith and maturity? Are we being strengthened as individuals and as a community?
In the midst of the struggles of life, memorials help us to remember that God is still with us because he has always been with us.
Memorials also provide us a vision for the future of what God can do in and with us based on what he has done. In our reading from Mark, Peter was inspired by the Communion memorial to declare his courage to stand with Jesus, whatever may befall (Mk 14:27-31).
Conclusion
If there is no reason to celebrate the presence of God in your life, then ask yourself, “Why?” Based on the memorials all around us, God is real and ready to guide us towards a glorious future.
Don’t resolve to be better. Resolutions have us relying on our own courage and willpower and almost always result in failure. Memorials remind us of God’s interventions on our behalf and inspire us for the future. Be inspired and let God perfect you, as you follow his guidance and bring glory and honour and praise to your creator through the perfection of your life!
