I remember when my husband and I had just indulged in giant-scoop ice cream cones of our favorite flavor, jamoca almond fudge. Stumbling on the cobblestone pavement, his cone flipped, and the ice cream fell out. A young child behind us gasped and stepped up, holding out her own cone as solace. Who could have imagined this magnanimous offering?
Another story. I stewed and grieved over years of conflict and frustration with someone leaving my community. I realized all I could do, what I had to do, was ask forgiveness for what I had done: harboring frustration and anger over our differences. I prayed I could truly wish him well on his journey and be freed of bitterness. Minutes after sitting down to this “farewell” lunch, he interrupted my opening sentence, saying, “Before we talk about anything, I must ask your forgiveness…” A magnanimous shift– more than I had asked for.
These surprising actions and more came to mind as I reflected on the criminals being crucified with Jesus on the Skull.* One was full of derision. But the other rebuked him and spoke words of truth and faith. The last words we have from this other one expressed bold hope: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Both criminals witnessed the same Jesus. But this one saw who he was. He must have taken in the details of Jesus carrying the cross, being tortured and mocked. He saw the way Jesus behaved and heard the words Jesus spoke. The only words of Jesus we have in this account are, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
What happened in the depths of that criminal? My imagination stretches and bends. Somehow, in the mystery and magnanimity of divine grace, this criminal became a person of faith. Somehow, his mind and heart opened to ultimate truth and ultimate hope. He recognized the essential love at the core of all being was right next to him. In his deep center, he must have had a completely new sense of his own identity as well, his own possibilities. Somehow, faith broke through all he had known and been and took hold. Faith became strong confidence and the request erupted, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
I love to hear the Taize chant of this request. I love to sing it on retreats and feel the communal vibration of the retreatants, somehow strengthening our faith and hope as we slowly, prayerfully, chant the request over and over again in unison. How we long to deepen our trust in God’s magnanimous love! We know we can. We know Jesus’ reply to the criminal was, “Truly, I tell you, this day you will be with me in paradise.” So much more than could be asked or imagined.
This day.
With me.
In paradise.
Truly.
–Ann Dean, Dayspring Church
- Do you have an experience of God’s magnanimous love you can share with a friend?
- Is there a deep longing you have yet to request in prayer?
