Lest We Forget

Forgetting has its consequences, for better or for worse. We usually don’t mind if someone forgets that we are responsible for that spill on the floor, or the one who made the dent in the car. Indeed, is not God’s ‘casting behind [His] back all our sins,’ – His forgetting – a great part of His Mercy? It’s when we forget to do good – to assist someone we promised to relieve, or fail to remember a birthday, that we easily disappoint or even hurt those we love. Forgetting God, our ultimate good, and turning our gaze from Him is the greatest danger of this human malady. Here we run the risk of ‘innocently’ choosing something else, someone else, some idol to meet our very human needs. Remembering then, holds supreme importance in our lives. If we remember God and who we are in Him, then everything else starts to take proper order.
Of all the Marian prayers, the Memorare which begins…REMEMBER O most gracious Virgin Mary, is a compelling reminder to us that there is someone who never forgets us. Our Mother in heaven and all the Saints who have gone before us are never unmindful of our needs, our hopes, and our strivings. Although we necessarily must pass through this ‘vale of tears,’ it is not without the ever present aid of Our Father in heaven and Our Mother of Mercy. Since we are so prone to forget such reassuring truths, it is good to conscientiously take time to REMEMBER every day, God’s mercy to us, His Providence seen through those who do us good, the ways in which He has answered our prayers, the good He has brought out of our trials, and so much more! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!
On the more humorous side of this weakness, good natured (albeit strained!) amusement often ensues here if the sisters leading the Divine Office lose their place and forget where the rest of the choir left off… Scenes like these remind us, (lest we forget!) that despite all our shortcomings we are deeply loved by God who asks of us our goodwill!