The Benediction will come, I assured myself as I read another excerpt of a recent essay at the SWAG Open Mic last Thursday evening. Benediction, the point of my essay, “Memento Mori,” about my father and the physical remembrances of him that I keep. Memento Mori: Remember death, remember you will inevitably die.

On Wednesday, we will receive ashes, a physical “Memento Mori,” in anticipation of the greatest Benediction of all.

An Old Testament Benediction

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

While reading at the Open Mic, I anticipated the benediction to come in the last paragraph: “The last memento I received was my father’s Bible. He’d left his Bible to my elder sister, but years later, while cleaning out her house, she sent it to me in recognition of my faith. I had the tattered Bible restored with explicit instructions to retain the front page: Holy Bible, Presented to Raymond S. Duff, July 14, 1943 by Mother, below which my grandmother wrote Num. 6:24-26. At the top of that page in Numbers, she wrote Benediction, and my father underlined the verses and drew three parentheses to the right of them.” My father carried his Bible with him when he reported for duty in WWII and for the rest of his life.

Numbers 6:24-26 is a well-known Old Testament passage, commonly referred to as the Priestly or Aaronic Blessing. Perhaps you’ve prayed or sung these verses, as I have many times. It is a prayer for God’s protection, grace, and peace, often used as a benediction. 

Paul’s New Testament Benediction

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.   2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

Early one morning five years ago, while sipping coffee during my devotions, I read the verse noted above and copied it into my journal. I’d also seen and heard this blessing many times. The conclusion of Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth is a benediction that references each member of the Trinity as the source of one aspect of his blessing prayer.

This verse, often referred to as the Apostolic blessing, is a prayer for believers to experience Jesus’ grace, which we do not deserve, God’s steadfast love, and intimate communion with the Holy Spirit. This is the essence of Christian life, which we examine particularly during Lent.

Peter’s New Testament Benediction

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-12 NIV

Peter’s benediction, which I’ve written about previously, is both blessing and fact: all power and dominion belong to God, now and forever. He will not fail. He will not yield. He will accomplish every purpose according to His own will and in His own time. God keeps His promises. This is great comfort to believers, encouragement to stand firm in faith during hard times. And in Peter’s time—and for many persecuted Christians around the world today—there were and are many hard days.

Faith is not passive; it takes effort, diligence, and practice. We cannot earn salvation, but we can “confirm,” that is, give evidence of Christian virtues: faith, hope, love. Our lives are meant to be faithful and loving, purposeful and fruitful. And the focus of our hope is eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for us, for all who believe.

This is the Benediction I remember today, the sixth anniversary of my mother’s death. This is the Benediction I remember during Lent, as Memento Mori shifts to Memento Dei. 

Remember death, remember God.

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