Lyrics
Refrain
Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead.
He is our saving Lord, he is joy for all ages.
Verse 1
If we die with the Lord, we shall live with the Lord.
If we endure with the Lord, we shall reign with the Lord.
Verse 2
In him all our sorrow, in him all our joy.
In him hope of glory, in him all our love.
Verse 3
In him our redemption, in him all our grace.
In him our salvation, in him all our peace.
Music
https://dh8zy5a1i9xe5.cloudfront.net/shared/pdf/preview/30107792.pdf
The meaning of language changes. Consider that this song was written by a non-native English speaking, French priest at the end of Vatican II, with the purpose to modernize our liturgy.
Scripture is taken out of context and incomplete.
Let’s read the whole section, highlighted sections form the base of the song.
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, 9 the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which in Christ Jesus goes with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:1-13 (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
The first line of the refrain is: Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead.
Written in 1965, keep in mind would have meant: “be careful to remember something important”.
But isolated, even translating to Remember that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead, would be bizar. Remember the most important dogma of Christianity? How can you possibly forget? It makes no sense if you don’t connect these verses to the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
But it gets worse. Today, keep in mind, doesn’t have the same meaning. Today its meaning may be more like: “yeah, I may consider that, …if I don’t forget”. The Urban dictionary describes the meaning of “keep in mind” as:
A phrase used when someone offers you useless or moronic advice, which will be immediately disregarded but you do not want to offend them, sparing their weak minds.
That hurts… But a song that was written for modern time needs to accept the consequences of a changing language. (Note: The Latin language does not change).
In this context the word remember is active; be remembering!, be mindful! Scripture is talking to soldiers, athletes and hard-working farmers. Remember in this context is active;
Keep in mind, Cambridge dictionary: to remember and take into consideration later.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Keep%20that%20in%20mind