Do this in memory of me

Whenever someone dies a tragic death, people often say, “You will not be forgotten.” Many times a special fund is started in that person’s name or parks or buildings are named after them. On the anniversary of their death or on their birthday often people will take a few minutes to remember the life of the person who passed. There is something in each of us that yearns to be remembered after we die. This in some way meets that desire to know that we have lived a life that was meaningful and made a difference. My nephew Titus Reynolds was killed in action in Afghanistan on September 24, 2009. Barth Cotner from Cotner’s Funeral Home had a mural painted on the side of his building along Main Street. It is sort of a historical wall painting and as part of it, he included the portraits of several military people who were from Reynoldsburg, who died in action. He included my nephew’s picture. Now every time I drive by that building I salute my nephew. It is sort of my way of saying, "Thanks, Titus. You will not be forgotten.” In Luke 22:17-20 when Jesus ate His last meal with the disciples, He instituted what we now call ‘communion’ or the ‘Lord’s Supper.’ It is interesting that when Jesus shared the bread and the wine He asked them to “do this in remembrance of Me.” Jesus wants us to remember Him. Jesus wants us to remember the tragic death that He died for us. Every time we partake of the bread and wine we are basically saying, “You will not be forgotten Jesus.” Every time we partake of the ‘Lord’s supper’ we are saying, “Jesus your life and death made a difference in me.” I don’t know how often we are supposed to partake of communion but I like taking the bread and wine every Sunday as we celebrate the life that God has given us. It helps me to get focused again on what is meaningful and important, and it reminds me again of what Jesus did for me. “Jesus, You will not be forgotten!”