What do we memorialize?

This Memorial Day sermon makes clear that what we remember and how we remember matters — for our understanding of the world, and for how we define ourselves. Memories are foundational for how we connect with our past and with others. They help build collective memory, social memory, memories that we all hold in common. To these memories we build monuments. They are our stories. Monuments not only tell stories, but they invite us to be part of those stories, whether for good or for bad. This week we celebrated two intersecting events — communion and Memorial Day. Each mark a liturgical calendar centered on sacrifice.