Throughout the month, many also take time to remember the deceased in their families, to remember their relatives who have died. I ask myself, do we also take time to remember the many others who have died due to addiction, drug overdose, mental health, mass shootings, suicides, cancers,and diseases? The list goes on. As wars are avoidable, many deaths because of societal woes are also avoidable. Do we remember to put as much effort toward the well-being of the poor and marginalized compared to the well-being of the rest of the population?
Remembering must be more than just remembering the dead. It must include remembering others in their plight and remembering to live as we should. Do we remember those we have wronged or those who have wronged us? Jesus said if you remember that your brother has something against you; stop what you are doing and go at once and make peace with your brother (Mt 5:23-24 GNB- Good News Bible). This is sound teaching. We are all meant to live in harmony. We can’t honour God without honouring every human being. The truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters is an example where truth has to be faced, and reconciliation has to take place. This is all part of remembering to live as we should.
The letter to the Hebrews exhorts us to live according to the example of Christ. It presents our earthly life as a kind of pilgrimage toward our proper and lasting home in heaven. Hebrew 13:1-3 says, “Keep on loving one another as Christian brothers. Remember to welcome strangers in your home. ... Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are (GNB). These are not easy thing to remember. I suggest we follow the advice given in Proverb 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, he will show you the right way ...simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong. If you do, it will be good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains (GNB).
This year let’s not only take time to remember the dead but also remember the downtrodden and remember to live as we should. Happy remembering.
Deacon Norbert Gaudet, Sacred Heart RC – Raymore
