Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
“O Lord, You have freed us from the fear of death. You have made the end of life here the beginning of a true life for us. You, who compassionately gave paradise back to the man crucified with You, remember me also in Your kingdom. If I have committed sins in word, deed, or thought because of the weakness of our nature, don’t let Your eyes discover them. You, who have power on earth to forgive sins, forgive me so that I may be refreshed. May I be found before you once I have put off my body, having no fault in the form of my soul. May my soul be received into Your hands, blameless and spotless, as an offering before You.”
Macrina the Younger (c. 327-379) was the sister of Basil the Great of Ceasarea and Gregory of Nyssa. Macrina the Elder was her mom.
These words are ascribed to her before her death. Read “Dialogue on the Soul and Resurrection” by Gregory of Nyssa to learn more. Macrina draws our attention to a key theme in Lent: repentance.
She echoes today’s Scripture with the interchange between Jesus and the thief on the cross. The word we are exploring this year, “remember,” appears both in the Scripture and in today’s post which is Macrina’s prayer.
When we ask God to forgive us our sins, in word, deed, or thought, He does.
We are refreshed, and not just refreshed, it renews us to give our lives back to Him as a blameless and spotless offering. This happens not because we are perfect, but because He has washed and cleansed us.
This relates to generosity as the only blameless and spotless offerings are those cleansed by repentance.
Remember, the gift of paradise awaits the humble, but that comes later. Now as we live each day as washed souls, our lives are the offering. God blesses and refreshes us to bless and refresh others.
Jesus, remember us today wherever we are. Forgive us our sins, make our lives into blameless and spotless offerings by your Spirit at work in us. Bless others through us today and remember us when you come into your kingdom. Amen.