'Memento Vivere!'

There was a story as told in a homily book about a newly married couple who wanted to insure their future children. They called all the insurance companies and instructed them to prepare the most comprehensive insurance coverage that they could offer.

Three agents came and were trying to outdo each other. The first agent proposed: “We will insure your future children from the basket to the casket.”

The second agent, not wanting to be outdone, said: “We can do better. We can insure your future children from the delivery to the cemetery.”

The third one, again not wanting also to be outdone, said: “We have the best offer. We can insure your future children from womb to tomb.”

The wife was not satisfied. So she asked: “Is there an all-embracing coverage that anyone of you could offer?” The three agents responded: “Yes, there is – but only God provides that.”

“What is it,” asked the husband. They chorused: “From Conception to the Resurrection.”

My dear friends, no one can give a comprehensive assurance of our lives except God, who secured us from conception to the resurrection and even until we become citizens of heaven. The resurrection of Christ has a very great relevance for today, not only because it offers the world a true way of life with an Assurance of the Resurrection of the body after we are dead, but also because it offers for all believers the hope of new life here and now.

For example, every time we suffer a loss, fail in ‘get-up-and-go’ or are disabled by an illness, we die a little bit; but if we believe in the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst, we will discover new dreams to pursue, new challenges to take on and new reasons to try again. Every time we are overwhelmed by problems, discouraged by disappointments or besets by worries, we are diminished in some way. But if we believe in the real presence of the risen Christ, we will find that the impossible becomes possible and the unreachable becomes reachable.

Resurrection is a new beginning because this means forgiveness in the very essence that Christ forgave His enemies on the cross. Somebody had said this: “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.”

The Trappist monks, in their eternal silence, greet one another, when they meet: “Memento Mori!” – that means, “Remember, you will die!” But on Easter they change this greeting and say: “Memento Vivere!” – that means “Remember that you will live!” Easter Sunday is the day that reminds us and gives us a complete hope that we live even through death. Therefore, let us greet each other, Memento Vivere.