St. John 14:23–31
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We are our memories. It’s what’s important to us, what sticks with us, the stories we tell that shape us—it’s where we find our identity. Last Sunday, I spoke about the importance of memory, especially a Christian memory, a memory full of Jesus’ words. And we learned how that memory is especially important for us in difficult circumstances. This Christian memory makes us into Christian people, shaping us and filling us up with Jesus so that we become new people that can share His cross and receive His glory.
But this Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and the Son to the Church on earth—this day tells us how we get this Christian memory, and Who gives it. Jesus said, The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
So, the Holy Spirit is a Teacher. But He doesn’t teach new things. He brings Jesus’ words to our remembrance. He teaches God’s Word to God’s people, not so that they can get what they need for the moment and then move on and leave it behind. He doesn’t teach so that we can get enough information to pass the test and then forget about what we learned. He doesn’t really even teach so that it’s useful to us, as if it was just some means to an end. He teaches so that we would remember Jesus and His words, so that our memories would be full of His Words, so that His Words would live in us and shape us and give us our identity. The Holy Spirit teaches so that we would remember who we really are: sinners redeemed by the blood of Jesus, people filled with God’s holiness, beloved children.
Now, if the Holy Spirit is a teacher, we are His learners. None of us have perfect memories, but each according to our ability we can make the effort. And there are ways to improve memory, including this Christian memory. The more you know, the more you can know. You’re better at thinking if you have stuff in your mind to think about. And once you have something in there, it becomes easier and easier to add to it.
Thoughts work like people at a party. What’s the first thing you do you when you go to party? You look around to see if you know anyone. And if you don’t know anyone, you’ll probably want to leave. It’s the same with facts, ideas, thoughts. They come into your mind and look around to see if they have any friends. Are there any other thoughts in there that seem to match up or connect with the new one? It’s always easier to keep or remember an idea when it knows where it’s supposed to fit, how it links up with its friends.
So the more you remember the more you can remember. Memory grows by news ideas building on the old ones, or filling in the gaps, making connections, building bridges between different ideas. Memory is like a puzzle, each idea is a different piece, so as you get more pieces that fit together you get to see more and more of the big picture. And it all starts to make more and more sense.
And Clayton, this is the real reason you did memory work. So that you can remember Jesus’ words, so that all of His words start to fit together for you. Your Catechism gave you a framework, the basic parts to get started. So now, when you hear Jesus’ words they have some friends to latch onto already in your mind and heart. See, you did not learn your Catechism so that you could pass a test and leave it all behind. You did not learn it so that you could move on to some greater knowledge or do something more impressive with your faith. Learning and remembering God’s Word is not just for catechumens. All of us are only a Christian so long as we learn and remember the Christian faith. We are our memories.
And if we are our memories, then communities also have a memory. Your family has a memory: the stories you tell and retell, the things you pass on from generation to generation, the name you share—it all tells you who you are. It’s the same with this community here. So, Clayton, the other reason you did your memory work and learned your Catechism was so that you can share in the memory of this community, the Christian Church. You are a part of the community created by the Holy Spirit—the community of saints. So this community that we call the one holy Christian and apostolic Church has the shared memory given by the Holy Spirit. You learn your Catechism so that you have the same memory as the rest of the Church: the stories we tell, the Name we share—it all tells you who you are now in this family of God.
And this community, in its memory and in its life, holds the Lord’s holy gifts in common. The Book of Acts tells us what the Christian Church held in common following Pentecost: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching—that is the doctrine; and the fellowship—that is the unity of all who hold that doctrine; to the breaking of the bread—that is the Lord’s Supper; and the prayers—that is the service of the Church (Acts 2:42). That’s what we are devoted to as well. In the Holy Spirit’s community, we share the Lord’s Word, we share His Baptism, we share His Supper. And now, Clayton, you have been given a greater part, a fuller part in that shared, communal life.
We are our memory. It’s how we live. Our memory is the kitchen pantry—it’s what we feed on. It’s how we grow. Our memory is the seed that grows and unfolds itself in our lives. So, for you, dear Christians, the Holy Spirit fills your mind and heart with the memory of Jesus’ words. And He causes your memory to live on and grow from the holy food God gives.
Speaking of food and memory, have our Lord’s Words of Institution crossed your mind? Jesus said that when we have this Holy Supper: Do this, in remembrance of Me. So these words of Jesus, given to us by the Holy Spirit, along with our Savior’s true body and blood, are to fill our minds and hearts—fill us with the memory of what our Savior did for us in His death and resurrection, and fill us with the memory of what our Savior does for us in the forgiveness of our sins.
But there is another way to take these words from Jesus. Not only, Do this, in remembrance of Me, but also, Do this, for My remembrance of you. So when you have the Lord’s Supper—when you hear His words and eat His body and drink His blood—not only do you remember Jesus, but Jesus remembers you. He thinks of you with love and mercy and blessing. And there He gives it all to you.
Peace I leave with you; Jesus says, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
Some parts inspired by Andrew Kern’s podcast episodes on Catechizing Children (2019)
