What memories of love have enriched your life and made you the person you are today? Is God a part of all your memories?

To write this reflection I spent some time sifting through memories, reflecting on how God has touched my life over and over again with His healing touch and His divine providence becoming the very center of my existence.

Over a decade ago I prayed to God that He would teach me all that He wanted me to learn and that prayer sparked a spiritual journey that would become a memory of love where I would hold Jesus’ hand and He would teach me to do something I did not know how to do – SURRENDER!

I am not sure how and when exactly it happened, but at some point I realized that I didn’t want to continue living just trusting in myself, I felt God calling me to trust in Him and slowly and surely I felt the strength of His loving presence and I entered into His tender embrace. What a memory of love! To finally understand that I could give Jesus all my worries and cares and know that He would help me through every problem was a point of total deliverance from anxiety.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2

If you have not yet given Jesus your unconditional trust, I encourage you to create a memory of love with Him this very day by surrendering to Him and telling Him that you want to follow Him and trust in His infinite love. Give Jesus your worries and sigh a sigh of relief knowing Jesus will help you through all your challenges.

As I have been reflecting on the memories of love that stand out in my mind, I have found an interesting trend. Most of the memories that really stand out were created either with my family or while I was serving God, doing volunteer work. I realize now that my family is not just a biological family; my family is God’s family and I have been privileged through many different ministries to meet so many people in need of God’s love.

I remember one year meeting at a hospice a young woman with amazing artistic talent except she could not afford to buy art supplies. What a privilege I had that Christmas to buy her some art supplies. Giving is so much more rewarding than receiving!   Giving is the ultimate memory of love and perhaps what defines family best – GIVING of our time, our love, our forgiveness, our support, our gratitude, our comfort. Of course when we give, we always receive, the joy of being able to help someone who is need.

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person?” 1 John 3:17

I encourage you to create a memory of love this Christmas by giving to someone you do not know. Open your heart to a complete stranger and invite them into your heart. There are so many good causes and charities that have catalogues of creative ways to make donations to the poor. One year we had the opportunity to pay for cleft palate surgery for a child in the developing world and that little smile lives in my imagination. Put a smile on someone’s face and imagine God smiling on you because He will!

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

Forgiveness is one of the most special memories of love.  Sometimes we hold grudges for far too long. The lack of forgiveness divides friends and families.  Forgiveness is freedom from the pain of the anger and hurt caused by injustice. Sometimes we don’t receive the apology we desire, but we can still give the gift of forgiveness and pray the prayer that Jesus prayed to His eternal Father when He was being crucified: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Time alone with God is one of my favorite memories of love. God calls us to lean on His shoulder and enter into His awesome presence: “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10 Sacred reflection on the Word of God is a memory of love that helps us to discover our true identity and our divine calling.

Our Lord Jesus wants all of us to come to Him with total trust in His infinite, unconditional love.  Every day I create this memory of love with Jesus. I take a walk with Jesus to Calvary as I remember His Passion. The memory always begins in the Garden of Gethsemane where Our Lord sweats blood thinking about all that He will have to endure to create a place for us in Paradise. I witness the struggle between the divinity and the humanity of Jesus as He calls out: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39

Sometimes the greatness memories of love are not born in peace and joy but in conflict and suffering. Making the right choice to honour God and silence our sensual desires and temptations is not always easy. Let’s thank God for helping us to choose His Holy Will over our selfish, sensual desires. That’s a memory of love that requires continuous prayer and spiritual discernment.

Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified for love and that’s the greatest memory of love in my life! Remembering each day the Passion of Christ changes my heart, progressively more and more, reminding me incessantly of the greatness of Jesus’ love for you and me. This memory of love fills me with holy desire to serve God, to reject Satan and to pray for all souls, that all will come to repentance and discover the eternal love of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

I celebrate the memory of the infinite love and sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus every time I go to Mass.  I meditate on the Passion of Christ during the Mass so I can remember how much Jesus suffered to save me and all who will believe in Him.  People can be distracted during the Mass and I think a more reverent celebration requires a deeper, more solemn remembrance of the Passion of Christ.  The miracle of the Eucharist is born out of the gift of God’s love to the world.  If we remember that this miracle is born out of such profound pain and suffering, we will be filled with sacred understanding, with reverence and with awe so that each Mass becomes a memory of the Divine Love and Divine Sacrifice of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22:19

Please join Christians all over the world that are creating a memory of love with Jesus each and every day at the time Jesus died for us, 3pm (in our local time zones). At this time we stop in solemn reverence to remember the Passion of Christ and pray for the mercy of Our Lord upon all souls, especially for those most in need of God’s mercy.  Please stop even for a few moments to remember Jesus being crucified for love and pray that the Holy Spirit silences the forces of evil in our world and brings souls to repentance.

Here’s a link to the Way to Calvary. Don’t let another day pass without stopping to honour Our Lord by remembering how much He endured to save us. That’s a memory of God’s love that will help you to reject sin and keep on loving and serving Jesus!  Memories of the Passion of Christ will change your heart and your life!