Remembering with Jesus

Why do you remember one thing and not another? It's probably because it was a big deal to you when it happened. In this week's Gospel (Luke 24:35-48), Jesus reminds His friends to remember something else that's a big deal: the stuff He taught them!

The Apostles were still sad because Jesus had died, when Jesus came into the room with them! "Why are you sad?" He asked. "I'm not a ghost; it's really me." He ate some food to show He was alive, and then helped them understand why He died and came back to life. "I told you that this would happen to me," He said; "now remember it."

After Jesus died, His friends DIDN'T remember what He taught because their feelings got in the way. They missed Him and worried about being hurt like Jesus was. They didn't even remember that Jesus said He'd come back to life!

If you think about when you were little, you might remember more: how your teddy bear looked when he was new, a big winter snowstorm or the time your mom's car ran out of gas!

In the Gospel story, Jesus reminded His Apostles to think about when He was with them. He wanted them to remember things, too: what He taught them about the Bible and about God, and how He promised to come back to life after He died.

You remember things because they happened to you, but the Apostles had to remember what Jesus told them for another reason: so they could go teach people about God after He went home to heaven! Jesus thought remembering was one of the most important things to do.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember whatever you teach me! Amen.