February 2012 GLEANINGS Theme Article

“Do This In Memory of Me”

by Jim Murphy

      When we hear these words, we naturally associate them with Christ’s command to continue the Eucharistic celebration.  You and I are able to receive the Eucharist today because for 2,000 years, the Church has obeyed that command to continue the Eucharist “in memory” of Him.  Of course, “in memory” does not mean a fond recollection of something that is over and done, but rather an ongoing, living reality that is made present in our time and space when we gather in His name.

      I would suggest that, while the Eucharist is the ultimate response to “do this in memory of me,” this command must be lived out in the entire life of the Christian.  Hopefully, all we say, all we do, all we endure, we do so in memory of Him who gave so much, endured so much, suffered so much for us.  If we are truly His disciples, we must do everything “in memory of” -  in union with - Him.

      The activity of the Holy Spirit in the heart and life of the believer brings about a tremendous change within the individual.  Sin and selfishness is rooted out.  Priorities change.  Cold hearts become inflamed with supernatural love.

      This supernatural love often is first directed towards God, who the soul now recognizes as the source of its life.  By the action of the Holy Spirit, the Christian falls madly in love with God  (...the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5).

      As the relationship between God and the soul of the believer deepens, a new phase begins; the soul’s expansion to love others.  This love is not in exclusion to loving God, but rather a natural expansion and maturing of love.  To love God is to love all that God loves….and God loves all!  It is a serious disconnect for a Christian to say that they love God but don’t love others (If anyone says “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20)  The believer’s heart is so filled with love that it splashes out on all whom they encounter!

      As has happened so many times in this Renewal in the Holy Spirit, something I was taught as a little child so many years ago now has come alive in my life in a vibrant and lived-out way.

      I think it was in preparation for my confirmation in the 4th grade that I had to memorize two lists, the Corporal and the Spiritual works of mercy:

Corporal works of mercy:	Spiritual Works of mercy:
To feed the hungry To give drink to the thirsty To clothe the naked To harbor the harborless To visit the sick To ransom the captive To bury the dead	To instruct the ignorant To counsel the doubtful To admonish sinners To bear wrongs patiently To forgive others willingly To comfort the afflicted To pray for the living and the dead

      At the time, they were simply lists I had to recite at the proper time to prove I was ready for Confirmation.  Today, as a result of the Holy Spirit touching my soul with transforming fire these two lists are now the marching orders of my life!

      48 hours ago, I returned from Mexico City, where I coordinate a missionary outreach for Renewal Ministries.  On these week-long trips, I lead a team to visit an orphanage, work in a home for senior men, and spend three days working in a garbage dump.  In the dump we set up a medical clinic, distribute food and clothing, and just interact with our friends as best as we are able.  We always have time for prayer, the proclamation of the word, and on special occasions, even have Mass in the dump.  We bring toys for the children and last week had several hundred kids milling around a few piñatas we had brought along.  We cut hair, play jump rope, and fly kites.  We sit in the dirt and color in our coloring books with the children.

      To be honest, it is at times overwhelming to see so much sorrow, so much poverty. Yet, a particular grace is given to those who come to do what they need to do.  I was struck by something I read recently from the Catherine of Siena Institute’s Called & Gifted Program which made this comment describing the charism of mercy:

“The charism of Mercy empowers a Christian to be a channel of God’s love through practical deeds of compassion that relieve the distress of those who suffer and help them experience God’s love. Although those with the charism of mercy feel the pain of others deeply, they do not find working with the needy depressing or draining but rather mysteriously compelling, renewing and fulfilling.”

This was the part of the quote that caught my attention, as it so accurately describes what I see in myself and the people who work with me.  Yes there are tears (at times the whole experience seems a bit surreal) but the team experiences great joy, peace, and almost a divine exhilaration from the experience of working with the poor.

      Rodrigo, one of my teammates who lives in Mexico, always reminds us “The poor don’t need us but we certainly need them.”  Everyone nods in agreement.  People talk about the joy and freedom that comes with serving those in need.  People come to realize that there are not many differences in us whatever our economic status is.  There is a wealth in all of us…and a poverty in all of us.

      As my team boards the bus for the dump, I always tell them a story about Mother Theresa.  Mother Theresa had been showing a reporter around her compound in Calcutta.  The reporter rather cynically pointed out to Mother that her work was barely a drop in the bucket.  For all the people she did help she wasn’t able to help everyone.  The reporter ended his tirade with “In light of all that is not being accomplished, can you really call yourself successful, Mother?”  The story goes that the woman took a breath, looked at the ground for a few moments, then responded to the reporter with a smile, “God never asked me to be successful, He only asked me to be faithful.”

      I see faces relax when they hear that story as they realize they are not required to save the whole world.  They only have to show up, and do their part to be “faithful” to God.  They can’t make all the pain go away…..but they can enter into the pain…and in doing so bring life, love, and hope.

“The charism of Missionary empowers a Christian to be a channel of God’s goodness to others by effectively and joyfully using their charisms in a second culture.”

This above definition, also from Catherine of Siena Institute, really captures what service is all about. 

      One question that often rises up among my missionary friends is; “How is it that I can be so open, warm, and loving to people I don’t even know…but don’t treat my own people at home with the same attitudes I have here?”  Ironically, most team members feel convicted to re-invest in their relationships at home, work, and the local parish with the same intensity that they served in Mexico.  The old adage that Charity begins at home really takes on new meaning.

      Compassion, charity, patience should not be only “exported” to other cultures, but practiced radically right where we live.

      As Lent approaches, we all have an opportunity to go deeper into living the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, three of the practices of Lent, can all contribute to a theology of mercy and mission. (Did you know that the word alms is derived from a Greek word for mercy?)  These three disciplines can either be “going through the motions” or they can be a journey to the depths of the heart.

      As we surrender ourselves to the love of God, we become much more open to sharing that love with others.  Whether we share this love in a garbage dump, a local convalescent home, or with a teenager or elder living in our own home…we can do it all, in memory of Him.

      The love and ‘pouring out of self’ that Christ demonstrated so fully in His life and death, must become the way that we live and die…in memory of Him.

Let this be the focus of your Lent.

~~~~~

Jim Murphy is the founder and president of Vera Cruz Communications (www.veracruzcm.com).  He currently serves as Country Coordinator for Mexico with Renewal Ministries, organizing and leading regular mission trips to serve the impoverished in Mexico City, as well giving parish missions, speaking at retreats, and consulting for many parish and diocesan level groups in the Church, nationally and internationally.  He has been a frequent speaker in our area and will be the guest speaker at our upcoming Leaders’ Retreat in September 2012.  Jim and his wife Susan live in western Michigan with their son John Patrick.

For more information about the Catherine of Siena Institute’s Called & Gifted Program visit www.siena.org.