What is your favorite movie? One of my favorites is “Titanic.” I like this movie not just because of music but also its story. Jack stared by Leonardo Dicaprio won a ticket to board the famous ship Titanic and met Rose and fell in love with her. As you know the story, Titanic was sinking and they were about to drown. Jack said, “Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me… it brought me to you. And I’m thankful for that, Rose. I’m thankful. You must do me this honor, Rose. Promise me you’ll survive. That you won’t give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise.” Rose answered, “I promise.” “Never let go.” “I’ll never let go. I’ll never let go, Jack.”
At some points in our lives, we promise to keep in mind and not to forget. Drivers promise to keep traffic rules; couples promise to love each other to the end; priests promise to be chaste, obedient and simple. And you also promised for your whole life! The promise you made resonates with Jack’s words because you promise not to give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless, and you never let go of that promise. The key of our promises is how we do not forget to keep it to the end.
The Supreme One of promise keepers is the Lord. The Lord promises and exactly keeps it. Furthermore, the Lord confirms it by saying, “Even should a mother forget her infant, I will never forget you.” But, we forget. We don’t remember what we promise. Unless we get Alzheimer’s disease, we have to find a way not to forget because we are not God. For instance, Rose in Titanic remembered Jack every moments of her life by looking at the diamond necklace she got from the ship. She was fully aware of her promise and kept it to the end, which was shown in the song, “My heart will go on.”
“Do this in memory of me.” Jesus commands us to remember the Last Supper. This gives us the essence of keeping the promise—practice the promise every day with all our hearts. One never forgets the promise as long as one remembers it by seeing, saying and even tasting it everyday. So the Eucharist is the way not to forget the promise, the promise of never letting go in the trust of the love of Christ. And we say “Amen,” that means, “I will never forget you, my Lord.” By receiving and eating the Body and Blood of the Lord, the receivers become one with the giver. In becoming one, I am the living promise as a witness to the Good News. And we know that our hearts will go on as the promise is ongoing.