Remembering

"In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."

Today is a day for remembering the people that have made your life what it is today. As I get older, my list of people that I have to remember becomes longer and longer.  I look at the tragic circumstances that took some of these people from me.  For example, there was a boyhood acquaintance, not a close friend, but a classmate, who was hit by speeding train. I remember to this very day his young body laying in that casket.  I remember going to the funeral of my father's "Uncle George."  He was found alone in his apartment laying on the floor.  And of course I remember with great sorrow the death of my mother who was a victim of the medical arts, a victim of a doctor who just did not care.  Then there was my father, a victim of R.J. Reynolds, who died gasping for breath after a lifetime of smoking. 

I am sure that you can remember the deaths of people in your family, or people that you knew.  Take your car and drive into the country and you will see evidence of tragedy everywhere as large plots of land have been set aside for the burial of ourselves, our relatives, and yes, even ourselves.  So what is this nonsense that Jesus said that he had conquered the world? 

Thank heavens, Jesus HAS conquered the world.  Part of this is, of course, that he has conquered sin and death. Before Christ, death and the devil laughed at the plight of the human race. After Christ, it is us that do the laughing because when death stung Jesus, death stung itself to death! 

On this memorial day, take a few moments and remember those that died before us.  They are now in heaven enjoying the Beatific Vision, being with God and the saints forever.  They are in a place where there is no pain, there is no suffering.  They know everyone and everyone knows them. 

Take a few moments as well to remember those who died so that you can be free to worship as you want to.  This year I will remember in my prayers in a special way a local man who gave his life for his country:

Army Spc. Wesley R. Wells 

Died September 20, 2004

Naka, Afghanistan