Memory Moves Us Forward
October 11, 2010
[an artistic representation of a recent discovery that many different areas of the brain are used to recall a single memory]
The lectionary readings yesterday were (“in my humble and accurate opinion”) about memory.
In Jeremiah 29, the Israelites had been exiled to Babylon and all they could remember was what they’d lost. They’d lost Jerusalem, the Temple, the Promised Land – not only their homes, but the physical representations of their relationship to God. But God tells Jeremiah to give them a promise of rescue: “It may take 70 years, but you have to remember that I’m coming for you.” Those who remember and live according to God’s promise – who take care of their land and have children (29:5-6) – will see that promise fulfilled at least to their children.
In Luke 17, Jesus heals 10 men with leprosy and only one returns to give thanks. Only one remembers where his healing came from. And he’s the one who gets to hear Jesus say, “your faith has healed you” (17:19). His relationship and understanding deepen when he remembers.
So what does it look like for US to remember?
It can look like taking our religious (even denominational) traditions seriously – discovering where we came from and why. It can look like conversations with our parents, grandparents and others of their generations. I can look like making scripture (the collective memories of God’s devoted servants) the center of our lives.
It can look like broken bread and a cup of grape juice, shared among friends. We take Communion every week because it is a place where we remember what Jesus has done, and are strengthened to get involved in what Jesus is doing. Jesus said, “do this in rememberance of me” because God knows we cannot move forward without our Memory.
