Remember Me

Darrell Courtley

Two thousand years ago the end was near he knew.
‘Cause the Romans couldn’t risk the growing power of a Jew.
So the teacher and his followers had one last Sedar meal.
He raised his glass, and said,
“My friends, let me tell you how I feel”.
He said, “I know I’m going to die, tho’ I’d rather live forever
There’s no use asking why,
the question is when, not whether.
But I won’t really die, if you do me one lasting favor.
Please remember me.
Every time you drink a glass of wine.
Every time you eat a loaf of bread
no matter what you do as often as you do it do it
in remembrance of me
remember me
Well, they did remember and to this day
millions of people all over the world remember… Jesus

In 1415 the Czech priest, Jon Hus
was accused of heresy,
because among other things
he had committed the unspeakable act
of sharing the Communion chalice.
not just with other priests,
but with the entire congregation
Even the liberal King Sigismund
could not accept such Universalist beliefs
and Jon Hus was burned at the stake.
To this day, when Unitarian­Universalists
light a flaming chalice
many believe it is to remember … Jon Hus

In 1553 a Spaniard named Miguel Servetes
published his belief that there was only one God not three
And that Jesus was human, not divine
Forced to flee the Inquisition he traveled to Geneva
but even the Protestants could not accept such Unitarian beliefs
and in Geneva he was put to death
But today, we remember … Miguel Servetes

In 1965 a Unitarian minister named James Reeb
went to Selma, Alabama to join the struggle for racial equality
But the Southern bible belt wasn’t yet ready for such liberal ideas
and James Reeb was beaten to death for his beliefs
But today, we remember … James Reeb

No doctor can tell me just how long I’ve got.
Might be just a little while might be a lot.
Might be tomorrow might be next week.
Might be when I’m out dancing or home in bed asleep.
I don’t want to die, I’d rather live forever
There’s no use asking why, the question is when, not whether.
But I won’t really die, if you do me one lasting favor,
Please remember me.

© Darrell Courtley, 1995