Today's Daily Reading

There is something very tender in the thought of the Lord's Supper as a memorial. We all know the value of mementoes in keeping in mind one whose face we cannot see. A young man sat one morning in his pastor's study, and drew a letter from his pocket, saying that he had just heard from his sister away in the English home. Opening the letter, he showed his pastor some little pressed flowers and some dried grass-blades. The young man's voice was choked with emotion as he said, "These flowers and grasses are from my mother's grave in England." The little memorials brought back the whole life of the mother and the son sat there and spoke most affectionately of her love, her fidelity, her beauty of spirit, her sacrifices, then of her death. So it is that the memorials of the Last Supper recall to our forgetful hearts the sacred scenes and events of our Lord's passion, and the love that led him to such sacrifice.

But mere remembering is not enough; the remembering ought to kindle love and keep us faithful. A young man was about to go abroad for a long journey. Just before he set out his father took his watch from his pocket. On the dial were the pictures of both his parents. "Take this watch", said the father, "and carry it with you in all your journeyings. Every time you look to see the hour the eyes of your father and mother will look up into yours. When you see these home faces, remember that we are thinking of you and praying for you. Go to no place where you would not want us to see you. Do nothing you would not want us to witness." In the Last Supper Jesus has given us his own picture -- his body broken, his blood shed; he wants us to remember him and be faithful. Remembering Jesus should always keep us from doubting and sinning, and inspire us to nobleness and beauty.