We usually think of War Memorials as a mark of national unity and community cohesion. But this isn't always the case. Sometimes, the memorial can cause hurt.
A conference is being held in Cambridge today which will explore the different reactions, around the world, to public memorials of deaths and tragedies. For instance, in Srebrenica, in Bosnia, the memorial to the 500 killed in the massacre of 1995 has reopened the wounds of that troubled time. The memorial itself has added to the hurt.
But we know this to be true in normal human experience.
All of us have memories from our past which have the capacity to cause us repeated pain and trouble. Much of the struggle we face to grow up to become stable adults is centred on how we handle the painful memories from our past, which can continue to trouble us.
It is therefore all the more astonishing that Jesus told us to allow ourselves to shaped by the memory of his disgraceful and shameful death. 'On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” (1 Corinthians 11.23-24)
Because Jesus was wiling to die for us and in our place, his death provides the very healing which we all need. St. Peter, who had denied Jesus before his death, and who must have had terrible memories of that fateful night, recalls Jesus' death as the very means of our own healing and restoration.
'He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross, so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
(1 Peter 2.24-25)
While our painful memories may still cause us grief and hurt, this particular memory has the power to heal and restore - and we all need to take this medicine if we want to know wholeness and healing.
Best wishes,
Richard
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