Yesterday at mass at Assumption Church in Lauderdale By the Sea, Florida, (where we are visiting for a week) the musicians played a song that I hadn’t heard in many years, although it was popular back in the early days of “liturgical folk music” when I was coming of age as a Catholic and as a musician. Hearing its simple melody once again, something deep inside resonated, like I was connected once more to that earlier time. That’s what music does. It resounds in us as a myriad of elements — musical notes, chords, silences and words, but also memories, poetry, other bits of music — all come together to create something new. Taken separately, none of these elements are as powerful as when they come together and resonate in our hearts and heads.
This song, titled “All I Ask of You” and composed by Gregory Norbert and recorded by the Monks of Western Priory, includes this simple and prayerful refrain: “All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.” But as those words and the voices of other worshippers poured over me, I realized that something even deeper was resonating in me — the meaning of the words.
What resonated was the thought that these few lines so simply and beautifully retold Jesus’ great commandment to us — that we are to love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls, and that we are to love those around us as much as we love ourselves. If we could somehow reduce our lives to these essential elements of love, we could certainly begin to believe and hope that we had lived as God wants us to live. And we would be remembered for that.
All we ask (friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, Facebook friends, strangers, neighbors, those in need, those with plenty) is that if you remember us, you will remember us as loving you. Nothing else matters.
All we ask (God) is that you remember us loving others and loving you. Nothing else matters.
Ask yourself in silence: How will those around me remember me? How will God remember me?
LOVE YA MAN!
This song is one of my favorites especially at funerals. So, so true Steve! God is love, we are made in his image and likeness, therefore we need to love one another as he loves us unconditionally.
Thanks for the beautiful reminder Steve. I hope all is well with you and your family!
So beautifully said, Steve, so simple, yet so profound. It is all that matters. How that hymn touches my heart! The memories it stirs up. Thank you for bringing me back to precious days and events. God bless you! You and your family remain, as always, in my prayers. Kathleen
How true Steve, that a song can suddenly jolt our memory banks and take us back to people, places and events that the passage of time had dimmed. There is a song that is appropriately titled ” The song remembers when”.
I am not familiar with this church song “All I Ask of you” except for an almost similar sounding one from Phantom of the Opera. However, henceforth, this title will now be remembered by me and with it the all important resonating effect it had on you.This will serve as a constant reminder to me that all God wants from us is to Love Him with our entire heart and soul and to love our neighbour as ourselves. For in the presence of LOVE how can there be anything else but kindness and goodness.
I’ve been following your postings of your adorable grandchildren, Noah and Kate. How much more joy and fun they must bring into your lives!
Warmest regards,
Lily Lee