Memorial Day

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
~  I Corinthians 11:23-26

I am a fan of political cartoons. I saw one last year for Memorial Day that struck me.  The first picture shows a family of five in a packed convertible with the mother going over a check list of the things they are bringing.  She gets to the last thing and asks, “Flowers?”.  The last picture has the car stopped and the father out with the flowers by a tombstone simply labeled “Veterans,” and he says, “Thanks.”

“Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.  At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think that the day is for honoring any and all dead, not just those fallen in service to our country.” http://www.usmemorialday.org.

Our God has set up many memorials since the beginning of time.  The last memorial is the main one that we remember every first day of the week. We call it the Lord’s Supper or communion. Like our brethren at the beginning of the church age, we remember what Jesus asked us to remember on the night that He was betrayed. Just as some people have lost the true meaning of Memorial Day, some have changed their thinking about the Lord’s supper.  People who observe it once a year say that observing it more often makes it lose its significance.  Others observe it twice a year. Still others have changed it into a mystic rite. Yet, what is it? It isn’t magical, and it isn’t a mystical event.  Partaking of it doesn’t cleanse me of my sins.  It is simply a memorial, a memorial to the greatest event that has ever occurred in world history.

God had taught us through the Law given to the Jews that we can’t keep the Law perfectly, and that we cannot earn salvation. Through the Lord’s Supper, we remember, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” so that we may be cleansed of sin and stand before the Father clean, holy and pure. Jesus willingly obeyed the Father and endured mocking, beatings and crucifixion.  He who knew no sin accepted our sins dumped on Him, causing Him to cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” His acceptance of our sins caused the Father to turn away from the sin and from His beloved Son. Jesus, by taking our punishment, saved us from the wraith of God.  Jesus’ resurrection proved Him to be the Lord.

Is once a week too often? No, for we need to remember, or we will forget what Jesus did and it’s significance for each one of us.

Father God, as we come before Your throne of grace and mercy, we offer thanks gratefully, lovingly, and in humility, Father, for Your love and Jesus and His love. Help us to remember and never forget what was done for us by You. In the name of Jesus our Redeemer, Amen.      ─ Ed