Memorial Day, 2011

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May each year. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates soldiers who died while in the military service. It was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. It also often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and Labor Day its end. Begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events such as the Indianapolis 500 auto race, held since 1911 on Memorial Day.

How will you spend your Memorial Day? This year I am traveling from a brief vacation and family reunion in Texas. Just seeing so many relatives, some I haven’t seen in decades, brings to mind many “memories.” Thinking about those past experiences brings me to a specific passage of Scripture today:

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:14-20 NIV).

At the last meal Jesus had with his disciples he instructed explained to them the necessity and purpose of his death and asked them to approach that time of worship in the future “in remembrance of him.” It was, after all, Passover. This was a Jewish celebration marking the miraculous deliverance of their nation from the slavery of Egypt. Just as God delivered them then, He did so again in the sacrifice of Jesus for all mankind. It was a complete sacrifice leaving nothing else to be done for all people in all time.

Memorial Day is a serious time of the year for many who mourn the great sacrifice of their loved ones on a field of battle given to insure our freedom. I would never lessen the magnitude of that sacrifice. However, as great a gift our freedom is in The United States, it is nothing compared to the freedom won for us through God’s gift of His only begotten Son. This Memorial Day, I hope you will remember all you have lost and honor them with your thoughts. But, would you also remember God’s gift to you? After all, it is the greatest of all gifts for eternity!