Lamplighting Prayer Three

Memory is a powerful thing. Just about anything in our environment can trigger a memory, good or bad. Even bad memories make us feel alive among the struggles of life. On the other hand, forgetting our memories can make us feel lost and empty. So, let’s talk about memory.

O Lord our God, remember us sinners and unworthy servants as we call upon Your holy name, and do not put us to shame for expecting Your mercy, but graciously grant us, O Lord, all our petitions that are for salvation, and make us worthy to love and to fear You with all our hearts, and to do Your will in all things. For You are a good God Who loves mankind, and to You we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

At every funeral service the Church sings, “May his/her memory be eternal.” I always remind families this prayer isn’t for us to remember our loved ones. This prayer is asking God to remember them. If memory makes us alive, then this prayer is about eternal life.

When God remembers us, it is much more than ‘warm fuzzy’ feelings. When God remember us, we are kept close to His comforting Spirit. We are embraced by His loving arms. We are protected from our enemies. Asking God to “remember us sinners” is asking Him for life.

Today’s prayer is about understanding that we won’t ‘live forever’ on earth. We need God to remember that we are broken and fallen human beings with weak will power. Some evenings it is all we can do to stand and pray. So, today’s prayer is another urgent prayer for grace.

Considering this prayer is part of Vespers, and therefore communal, we also must understand the powerful image of the Church gathered, all asking God to never forget them. It is as if we are departing for a long trip. We want God to remember us when we return.

Where will we return? Well, if we die in our sleep, we will awake in heaven at His judgment seat. If we don’t die in our sleep, we will awake needing God’s help to push through another day. The long night ahead is a treacherous journey. This prayer is part of ‘putting things’ in order.

This prayer is also about remembering our sins. We are not worthy to call upon the name of the Lord. We are not worthy to be welcomed into heaven. We are not worthy of His grace. We have done nothing deserving of eternal life. So, we ask God to “make us worthy”, and He will.

For me this prayer recalls the thief on the Cross. “Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom. And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23.42-43) The thief knew he was about to die, but that God could save him.

We shouldn’t think that remembering our impending death is being morbid. In fact, when we forget our mortality is when we are in the greatest danger. The Church isn’t asking us to dwell on death so much as asking us to be aware of death and to be prepared for it.

The next time you go to Church for Vespers, bring with you your memories of your sins. You will need to remember them to ask God for His grace. If you stand in front of God forgetting that you need His grace, you may never ask Him. If you don’t ask for His grace, you may not receive it.

On the other hand, if you stand in front of God remembering your weakness and sin, you will definitely feel His grace and mercy. Happy praying.