May Week 5 — Mission Cleveland Parish

Virtue: Remembrance
Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.

Human Story: The Liturgical Calendar

Humans have an instinct to observe days that are significant. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. We commemorate momentous dates in history. We remember loved ones who have died. We celebrate changes in the seasons. There is something inherent within us that needs these types of markers in our lives. The church is no different. We as a body need to celebrate important events just like our families need to celebrate together. The Jewish faith is steeped in tradition and set times of festivals and celebrations. When Jesus observed the Passover meal with his disciples, was crucified the next day, and then rose from the dead, it began a new cycle of remembrance and celebration for those who believe in Him.

Every Sunday when we gather together as the Church, we remember Christ’s death and resurrection, and we remember that He is coming again. Sunday is the pinnacle of our week and re-orients our souls and minds as we focus on Jesus. In addition to this weekly time of remembering, the liturgical calendar walks us through the important events of the life of Jesus and of the Church as well as helping us to understand our responsibilities as Christians.

The liturgical year begins with Advent, a time of anticipation. During this season we remember Christ’s first advent as a baby, and we joyfully anticipate His second advent when he comes not only to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) but also to renew all things. (Rev. 21) Christmas is a 12-day season in which we celebrate Christ’s incarnation and anticipate his return to restore all things. During Epiphany we commemorate the revelation of Christ to the gentiles as signified by the visit of the Magi, and we also remember Jesus’ childhood and baptism. The season of Lent is 40 days long (excluding Sundays) which is a reflection of the 40 days Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. It is marked by fasting and penitence as we remember the trials Jesus had to endure leading up to His crucifixion. Within Lent, we celebrate the triumphal entry (Palm Sunday), the institution of the Eucharist (Maundy Thursday), and the crucifixion of the Christ (Good Friday). Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Eastertide, the season in which we celebrate the risen Lord, lasts for 50 days. Forty days into Eastertide is the remembrance of Christ’s ascension to the Father. Pentecost commemorates the gift of the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday praises the triune nature of God. All of this celebration is roughly the first half of the Christian calendar, and as you can see, it is the story of the earthly life of Christ Jesus, our Messiah.

The remainder of the year is called Ordinary Time, and it is a period for learning about what the church’s response, what your response, to Jesus should be. In light of all that Jesus did and taught, how then do we live our everyday lives?

Sprinkled throughout the liturgical year are festivals which commemorate Saints. These are people, like you and me, who chose to devote themselves fully to their Lord. Our weekly devotions contain stories of some of these Saints, but all of their stories are amazing and inspirational. Celebrating the Saints adds a beautiful aspect to our remembering. It’s important to remember because it is a testimony of God’s goodness, faithfulness, mercy, and grace.

Lesson: Psalm 78:3-8 (ESV)

Things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

We generally take our memories for granted until someone we love (or we ourselves) begins to have trouble remembering things. Watching home movies, flipping through a scrapbook, or scrolling through digital photo collections can help us remember important moments of our lives. It can also encourage us to share those memories with others.

Our heavenly Father has left us a scrapbook of sorts in the Holy Bible. It is important for us to not only read it (not just our favorite parts) but also to share it with our children and grandchildren. We can’t fully rely on Sunday School, Christian schools, or weekly church services to plant seeds of faith in the next generation. If faith is not passed down from generation to generation, it will quickly wither and die. God even gives us some of those stories in His scrapbook.

It's not only Bible stories that need to be shared. Make sure you also tell your offspring stories of how God has worked in your own life and even in their lives. Keep faith alive through active remembering.

Remembrance: Remembrance by Hillsong Worship

I take the bread of life
Broken for all my sin
Your body crucified
To make me whole again

I will recall the cup
Poured out in sacrifice
To trade this sinners’ end
For Your new covenant

I’ll walk salvation’s road
With fear and trembling
Your way borne as my own
As Christ is formed in me
Hallelujah, I’ll live my life in remembrance
Hallelujah, Your promise I won’t forget

If ever I should lose my way
If ever I deny Your grace
Remind me of the price You paid
Hallelujah, I’ll live in remembrance

You’ve been so so good to me, You’ve been so so good to me
Oh to think where I would be, If not for You, If not for You

As far as heights reach from the depths
As far as east is from the west
So far Your grace has carried me

Until I see You face to face
Until at last I’ve won my race
Remind me, You’re not finished yet
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, I’ll live in remembrance

Challenge

Ann Voskamp wrote a thought-provoking book called One Thousand Gifts in which she challenges us to begin a list of things we are thankful for. This is an excellent way to remember God’s faithfulness, grace, and mercy to us. Begin your list by writing down one thing per day that you are thankful for. As appropriate, share these remembrances with others to tell of God’s faithfulness to you.

Reflection

It’s easy to breeze through our human story with nonchalant familiarity. Read through the paragraph about the life of Christ again, this time pausing to really think about what it means and all that it entailed at the time it was happening to Jesus.

Further Growth

Virtue: Remembrance Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.