Northminster Family,
The title of Sunday’s sermon was “Memento Mori,” which I know is an unfamiliar term for some of us. The translation, as we mentioned in the service, is the ever cheerful: “remember, you will die,” but as with most symbols, the meaning of a memento mori goes beyond a simple translation.
Some sources report that symbols reminding us of our death developed with the growth of Christianity as reminders to prepare yourself for the afterlife. The subtext was: Remember, you will die... and when you do are you living in a way that will take you to heaven or hell? Of course, the deeper subtext was likely: So do exactly as we say!
Most of us, however have let go of the need for these shame and judgment based concepts of the afterlife, and so might find more meaning in other cultures’ use of the memento mori. Some report that the symbol pre-dates Christianity, finding mementos mori in ancient philosophy and eastern wisdom traditions. For them, a memento mori is not an agent of fear or shame, but an invitation to liberation. Their subtext is something more akin to: Remember, you will die, so for goodness’ sake, stop running from it! Accept it as reality, and live accordingly. Stop clinging to things. Stop distracting yourself. Face your death now, and live free.
Or, in other words, "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"
I think this is closer to what Jesus meant when he told his disciples he expected to die in Jerusalem. He was still willing to move forward, not because he was a superhuman, immune from fear, but because having accepted his death, he no longer let fear drive. He was "a wave awake to its true nature as the whole sea,” and knew well that, try as you might, “you cannot kill the sea.”
What would our lives be if we carried with us a memento mori? What could we stop running from? What could we finally find the courage to say and do? What would be the implications for the domination that leads to white supremacy, the over-consumption that leads to climate change, the need for control and safety that rob churches of their integrity?
Northminster, when we’re tempted to run, to distract ourselves, or to attack, may we memento mori, and may we be free to live from our true selves.
Peace,
Zach
