In celebration of Easter recently, as I shared and celebrated the “Lord’s Supper” in the observance of communion with fellow worshippers, I was particularly struck this time by the words “In Remembrance” as they were spoken by my pastor. I’ve observed communion more times than I can count in my lifetime, but this time specifically, these simple words, “In Remembrance” struck me deeply. Those words moved me more than they usually do. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of all that Christ accomplished for us on the cross, paying for the penalty of our sins while he was
sinless, providing salvation and eternal life for us even while we were still sinners, overcoming sin and death through his own death and resurrection, which we could not accomplish for ourselves. I am over-whelmed by his generous gift to us. His willingness to go to the cross for us, to endure being forsaken by God, his own father for us, to take upon himself all our sin. No one else could ever do that. No one else, ever would.
In my mind, the words stuck, “In Remembrance” because of the death of my daughter earlier this year. While I’m observing communion as a remembrance of what Christ did in the past, my daughter is with Christ celebrating it in a new way. What must it be like to celebrate Easter in Heaven? I wonder… I imagine… But I can’t grasp what it must truly be like. Surely, her change in placement and time has affected her perspective and experience of celebrating Christ and the Lord’s Supper in Heaven. Ahhh! What is that like?
I’m stuck in an endless cycle right now of “remembering” concerning my daughter. i think about her childhood, her growing up, her gifts and talents, her love for Christ, and her willingness to serve others, and tears always well up and flow easily. Oh, how I remember her, and miss her. I have great hope in where she is, Heaven, and whom she’s with, My Lord, Christ, God in Heaven. It gives me comfort. It provides great hope.
We observe communion, In Remembrance of Christ, of what he has done for us on the cross, so that we don’t forget what he’s done, and reminds us we belong to him now, if we’ve received him and follow him, and while we are here on earth there is work to be done. With his love, we must love others. If we forget and don’t remember what he has done on our behalf, we won’t share the ‘good news’ with others, we won’t grow in our own understanding and love for God and others, we won’t be prepared properly for our eternal life when we too join Christ one day.
I for one, want to be ready for my future life with Christ, I hope to not arrive in Heaven having wasted my time on earth. While I long to meet Christ, and see my daughter again, I can patiently wait for my final day to come. But, until that day comes, I want to get busy helping others come to know Christ, learn to love Him and others, and also prepare for life eternal. When my time comes, I want to leave behind others yearning for Heaven, knowing they will end up there with Christ, if they respond to the gospel and accept all He’s done for them on the cross. I want my friends and family, and as many people as possible, knowing why Christ died, believing in His Resurrection, and looking forward to joining Him in the age to come. I want everyone to learn what, “in Remembrance” means when it comes to Christ’s death and resurrection. I want them to remember. Perhaps I will find a way to do something special “In Remembrance” of Rachel too, Maybe when my emotions aren’t assaulting me daily as they are now. I will remember outwardly even as I remember inwardly now. For now I’m learning to rejoice in the Heaven to come, and holding onto hope in the life I’m still living now. If loved ones you’ve lost know Christ, rejoice in the fact that they are with Him, just as I rejoice that my daughter is with Christ now. Remember them with the same sweetness you had when they were with you. If they died in Christ, we will see them again.
Until then, Remember Them, Susan