Thanks For The Memory, Bob
Stories
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
Series VI, Cycle B
Object:
Several years ago, America paused to mark the passing of a great man. Kudos and compliments came by the boatload. No, it was not someone who brought world peace or cured cancer or accomplished some incredible feat. This was the man they called the "Entertainer of the Century," Bob Hope. As Woody Allen noted, "It's hard for me to imagine a world without Bob Hope in it." I suspect there are millions of others who would echo that, especially those who, as young men and women in uniform around the world at some distant Christmas, were able to enjoy his traveling shows to bases in the far corners of the globe. We agreed with President Bush that "America [has] lost a great citizen. We mourn the passing of Bob Hope. Bob Hope made us laugh." Indeed -- thanks for the memory, Bob.
Andy Rooney's newspaper column on Bob Hope's death was interesting. He wrote,
Enthusiasm isn't listed as a virtue in the Bible but it's one of the most attractive attributes a person can have. An entertainer who loves to entertain has a big head start appealing to an audience, and no one ever loved being on stage more than Bob Hope. Every time he got up in front of a crowd, he had a good time and it was catching; his audience had a good time, too.1
The New York Times informed its readers of Bob's death by running an obituary written by Vincent Canby, the veteran Times entertainment critic who himself had died several years before. The peculiar incident of one dead man writing about another was cause for some enjoyment in New York's tabloids. The New York Post wrote, "If there are any mistakes, obviously don't call the writer." I guess if you are going to have fun with an obituary, it is fitting that it be for Bob Hope. It is all part of what we remember of him.
Over and over following Mr. Hope's death, we heard, "Thanks For The Memory" repeated. That was not only Bob's theme song, it was the way the nation was feeling. And I began to think about what would be said about me when my time came. Would there be any memories to say, "Thanks," for? How about you? The answer is pretty much in our hands, isn't it?
You are familiar with the name Alfred Nobel, after whom the Nobel Prizes are named. Nobel made his fortune as the result of an invention of his -- dynamite. One morning, he awoke to read his own obituary in the paper. You see, his brother had died, but a careless reporter had published the obituary of the wrong Nobel. It described him as "the dynamite king, the industrialist who became rich from explosives." It made Alfred Nobel sound like nothing more than a merchant of death. Needless to say, Nobel was more than a little upset by what he saw ... not simply that the wrong person was being remembered, but the horrible portrait it painted. Alfred Nobel resolved that day to change the course of his life and do something positive for society. He left his entire fortune to be awarded to individuals who have done the most to benefit humanity, and the result was five Nobel Prizes that are awarded with such fanfare each year. It all started because of an obituary that made clear what any "Thanks for the memory, Alfred" would sound like.
Somewhere I recall reading of a newspaperman whose job it was to edit the obituary page. One day, things were slow on the job -- nobody died -- so he searched around for something to do. As he sat staring at the keys on his typewriter, he began to think about what his own obituary might look like if suddenly it became necessary to publish one. As he thought about it, he realized that there would not be very much to say beyond place of birth, job, family, and so on. He began to compose the kind of obituary for himself that he would like to have written. In it he included all sorts of church activities and community service, involvement with young people, his community, support for the various educational institutions, help with the United Way -- one worthwhile activity after another.
When the obituary was finished, he was most impressed, but at the same time, most discouraged. He realized that what he had written was a big lie. It became a challenge to him, and for the rest of his life, he made the effort to live up to that glowing obituary he had written. It worked. He did become involved in his church and community more than ever before, and the result finally was that the fanciful obituary he had written on one slow day proved to become a road map for his life. What kind of obituary would you like to have written about you? Thanks for the memory, David ... or Bill or Bob or Jean or Jane.
Suddenly, we find ourselves in church and, not just anywhere, in front of the communion table. There are the oft-repeated words: "Take, eat ... do this in remembrance of me ... This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood ... Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me." What is it that the Lord wants us to remember?
Perhaps the answer is in our text. The crowd has seen Jesus do remarkable things -- the lame have walked, the blind have seen, the hungry were fed (5,000-plus with only five barley loaves and two small fish). They wanted even more: "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat' " (vv. 30-31).
Jesus responds, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (vv. 32-33).
"Please, Jesus, give us this bread."
He answers, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (v. 35).
Jesus says remember me when you eat and drink. Why especially then? Because we need the reminder of the true source of all we need:
* When our starving spirit needs nourishment, we have it in Jesus.
* When our hungry heart needs sustenance, we have it in Jesus.
* When our tortured mind needs mending, we have it in Jesus.
* When our suffering soul needs solace, we have it in Jesus.
As we come to the table, dare we say, "Thanks for memory, Lord?" Why not? The remembering does us good. And we hear the words again, "I am the bread of life. Those who come to me will never go hungry, and those who believe in me will never be thirsty." "Come to me," he says, "I am here to provide what you need." And that is good news indeed.
____________
1. Andy Rooney, "Remembering Bob Hope," Tribune Media Services, 8/2/03.
Andy Rooney's newspaper column on Bob Hope's death was interesting. He wrote,
Enthusiasm isn't listed as a virtue in the Bible but it's one of the most attractive attributes a person can have. An entertainer who loves to entertain has a big head start appealing to an audience, and no one ever loved being on stage more than Bob Hope. Every time he got up in front of a crowd, he had a good time and it was catching; his audience had a good time, too.1
The New York Times informed its readers of Bob's death by running an obituary written by Vincent Canby, the veteran Times entertainment critic who himself had died several years before. The peculiar incident of one dead man writing about another was cause for some enjoyment in New York's tabloids. The New York Post wrote, "If there are any mistakes, obviously don't call the writer." I guess if you are going to have fun with an obituary, it is fitting that it be for Bob Hope. It is all part of what we remember of him.
Over and over following Mr. Hope's death, we heard, "Thanks For The Memory" repeated. That was not only Bob's theme song, it was the way the nation was feeling. And I began to think about what would be said about me when my time came. Would there be any memories to say, "Thanks," for? How about you? The answer is pretty much in our hands, isn't it?
You are familiar with the name Alfred Nobel, after whom the Nobel Prizes are named. Nobel made his fortune as the result of an invention of his -- dynamite. One morning, he awoke to read his own obituary in the paper. You see, his brother had died, but a careless reporter had published the obituary of the wrong Nobel. It described him as "the dynamite king, the industrialist who became rich from explosives." It made Alfred Nobel sound like nothing more than a merchant of death. Needless to say, Nobel was more than a little upset by what he saw ... not simply that the wrong person was being remembered, but the horrible portrait it painted. Alfred Nobel resolved that day to change the course of his life and do something positive for society. He left his entire fortune to be awarded to individuals who have done the most to benefit humanity, and the result was five Nobel Prizes that are awarded with such fanfare each year. It all started because of an obituary that made clear what any "Thanks for the memory, Alfred" would sound like.
Somewhere I recall reading of a newspaperman whose job it was to edit the obituary page. One day, things were slow on the job -- nobody died -- so he searched around for something to do. As he sat staring at the keys on his typewriter, he began to think about what his own obituary might look like if suddenly it became necessary to publish one. As he thought about it, he realized that there would not be very much to say beyond place of birth, job, family, and so on. He began to compose the kind of obituary for himself that he would like to have written. In it he included all sorts of church activities and community service, involvement with young people, his community, support for the various educational institutions, help with the United Way -- one worthwhile activity after another.
When the obituary was finished, he was most impressed, but at the same time, most discouraged. He realized that what he had written was a big lie. It became a challenge to him, and for the rest of his life, he made the effort to live up to that glowing obituary he had written. It worked. He did become involved in his church and community more than ever before, and the result finally was that the fanciful obituary he had written on one slow day proved to become a road map for his life. What kind of obituary would you like to have written about you? Thanks for the memory, David ... or Bill or Bob or Jean or Jane.
Suddenly, we find ourselves in church and, not just anywhere, in front of the communion table. There are the oft-repeated words: "Take, eat ... do this in remembrance of me ... This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood ... Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me." What is it that the Lord wants us to remember?
Perhaps the answer is in our text. The crowd has seen Jesus do remarkable things -- the lame have walked, the blind have seen, the hungry were fed (5,000-plus with only five barley loaves and two small fish). They wanted even more: "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat' " (vv. 30-31).
Jesus responds, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (vv. 32-33).
"Please, Jesus, give us this bread."
He answers, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (v. 35).
Jesus says remember me when you eat and drink. Why especially then? Because we need the reminder of the true source of all we need:
* When our starving spirit needs nourishment, we have it in Jesus.
* When our hungry heart needs sustenance, we have it in Jesus.
* When our tortured mind needs mending, we have it in Jesus.
* When our suffering soul needs solace, we have it in Jesus.
As we come to the table, dare we say, "Thanks for memory, Lord?" Why not? The remembering does us good. And we hear the words again, "I am the bread of life. Those who come to me will never go hungry, and those who believe in me will never be thirsty." "Come to me," he says, "I am here to provide what you need." And that is good news indeed.
____________
1. Andy Rooney, "Remembering Bob Hope," Tribune Media Services, 8/2/03.
