Memories

Recently I was looking at some Family photos and some objects given by family members.
Many of the people in the photos have now died. Others were children when the photos was taken and now have children themselves.
There was a statue of the holy family escaping as refugees to Egypt given to me by the Franciscan community where my Franciscan auntie was during my visit to Egypt a couple of years before she died.

As I reflected on each photo, each picture told a real story.
I felt real emotions, real feelings….I remembered.

Then the thoughts went to our scriptures and our mass.
They also are about remembering real stories, real experiences, real memories.
At mass the priest says just after the consecration, “Do this in n memory of me”.
The meaning of ‘memory’ as used in mass has a rich meaning. It means a remembering that takes you to the real experience, a memory that brings about the reality.
We also are called to be sacraments, living realities, living reminders of the mystery of Christ and his message.
Imperfect as we are, we have a real God giving mission.
The more we familiarise ourselves with the message of the gospel and try to live it the more clearly, we become that ‘living reminder’ of the deep life giving mystery.