Luke 23:33-43

Luke 23:33-43 - November 24, 2013 - Year C

23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

If we weren't so limited by our context we could see these lines in our current context.

Let's work our way backward into our present.

Welcome to another day in Paradise where steadfast-love weds mercy to justice. Look around again. And again. This is Jesus prayer come true; heaven has come on earth. We are partnered with one another, urging one another onward toward a wholeness already known and yet needing bodies and form.

In this Paradise we are loathe to leave behind for a static pig-in-a-poke in some by-and-by, we blink our eyes again and Jesus is truly here. We are encouraged to continue to stand for a merciful justice. Visit Facebook/StandWithFrank as another trial tries to separate that which G*D has joined together.
This is so overwhelming we find ourselves like Peter in the presence of another transfiguration—stammering: "Remember me when . . . ."

Returning to our senses we know ourselves remembered. When knowing we are remembered rather than forcing some remembrance to be repeated and repeated in some weird Groundhog Day, we can move forward together.

Can you look back over this year to remember when you were remembered and you lived a merciful justice? That honors Jesus far more than some heraldic claim that "Jesus is Lord" or trying to leave this Paradise of "joy to the world" and "fear and trembling".

Use this as a time for evaluation of the last year in order to better engage a next year. What finally needs forgiveness in order to participate in merciful justice?