Luke 24:39-43

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” vss. 42-43

In Luke’s gospel Jesus continues his ministry as he hangs dying on the cross, first forgiving his taunting killers and then offering hope to the criminal hanging next to him. His promise concerning Paradise has been scrutinized and studied for centuries–it’s an ambiguous term and can mean a variety of things. It’s often used as a synonym for Eden and some have identified it as Abraham’s Bosom, a place of peace and pleasure for the righteous dead. Still others wonder what he might have meant by “today.” It seems almost antithetical to the widespread belief in the resurrection of the dead to think that Jesus and the thief would experience new life on the day of their death. As is often the case we should probably just take a deep breath and quit trying to figure out an answer. It is enough to simply receive the promise of new life, rejoice for a moment, and then go on to enjoy this life to the fullest. The truth is that we don’t know the details of what happens when we die–no one does. How about we just take Jesus’ words at face value? Paradise awaits–there will be peace and comfort. And it does feel good to know we won’t have to wait!

Thought for the Day: Where is Paradise in this world?

 Luke 23:33-38

“Then Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing.” vs. 34

Those of us who watch the Netflix series called “The Crown” have gotten a pretty good idea of what it’s like to sit on the throne of England. We know the glory, wealth, and prestige that comes from being a king or queen. In the gospels it is intimated that Jesus is a king–we even celebrate the last Sunday of Pentecost as Christ the King Sunday. But his kingship was a far cry from that of earthly monarchs! His throne was a cross and he ruled as Suffering Servant. Those who attended his coronation treated it as a joke and mocked him as he hung dying. They teased him for his weakness and hurled insults as he bled and died. And his last words to them were, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” What magnificent last words! Jesus doesn’t ask for retribution against those who put him to death. He doesn’t ask God to strike them down–all he wants for them is forgiveness. Oh what a king we have, and what a kingdom he has given us! There is no mistaking his example or intention for how we shall live. Where did we ever get the notion that it’s fine to seek vengeance against those who do us wrong? Perhaps it’s a primal survival instinct; it certainly didn’t come from King Jesus!

Thought for the Day: Why isn’t restoration a central value of our justice system?

Colossians 1:17-20

“He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” vs. 18-19

The Christ who was in the beginning, who is the image of God imprinted in every human, is seen fully in Jesus of Nazareth. In Jesus we get a snapshot of how to live in a suffering world. He is the model of compassion and servanthood and willingly gave his life for those he loved. In his resurrection, because he is fully human we find hope for victory over death. Jesus invites us to become his disciples and to live as his followers–he is the way, the truth, and the light. As we live, play, and work on the journey we are his presence, his body in our relationships with others. The Christ that was in him is also present in us and as “little Christs” we are his hands and feet–through us his continuing work is done. Sometimes it’s hard to get our heads around the mystery inherent in our sense of the Christ–it’s the kind of truth that we can nibble at, but never consume fully. But how wonderful it is to believe that God’s self (the Christ) has been poured into our universe and that there is no where we can be where God is not present. We may not understand this now, but one day we will know fully, even as we have been fully known.

Thought for the Day: When do I notice the presence of the Christ in myself?

Colossians 1:11-16

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.” vss. 15-16

These are two of the most spectacular verses in all of scripture and deserve to be etched upon our hearts and maybe even tattooed on our skin! In these few words we can begin to understand the distinction between Jesus and the Christ even as we celebrate their union. Christ was the Word of God, present at the Big Bang, and through the Christ all things were spoken into existence. Christ is present in all and works through all, the image of the invisible God, inseparable from God. In Jesus of Nazareth, Christ was made flesh and lived among us, revealing through Jesus all that we need to know of God. What’s even more amazing is that the Christ also lives in every single human–the Christ is the indelible image of God in which we were created and that can never be taken from us. That image can be obscured, yes! But never blotted out! And when Jesus says, “Let your light shine,” he’s calling forth our Christlight, that all might see the glory of God. Jesus was human; the Christ is divine, and together they are the Light of the World. In their unity we experience most fully the unconditional love of God.

Thought for the Day: How am I like Jesus?

Psalm 46:6-11

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” vs. 10

The psalmist knew that God is heard most clearly in the sounds of silence and not in sermons or even the singing of psalms. It’s nice to have solid preachers and gifted choirs in congregations, but God comes closest to us when we put aside words and simply listen in the stillness. Some find that hard to do. We seem to like noisy environments–even when we’re alone we use ear buds to bring in a steady stream of talk and song. The ancients didn’t have those distractions and learned to spend long periods of time in complete silence and meditation. It’s what Jesus did when he wanted to reconnect with God–he’d go away into the mountains or along the sea. When only the sounds of nature are present, and we close our mouths, God comes. And invariably we discover, as did the psalmist, that God is worthy of exaltation, all day, every day. It may be a challenge for us, waiting on the Lord in silence probably isn’t one of our spiritual gifts. For some it may feel like torture. We don’t like to be alone with our thoughts and crave external words. But when we can do it, if only for a few minutes, we make an amazing discovery. God comes in the silence and can actually be God for us–in those moments love fills our souls, and joy is our reward. 

Thought for the Day: Where do I go to be still before God?

Psalm 46:1-6

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” vss. 2-3

As global temperatures rise more and more people are convinced that we are in the beginning stages of significant climate change. Even though some aren’t convinced that this is human-caused they do agree that preparations need to be made for the consequences of warmer temperatures. Even though sea level changes seem incremental they will cause catastrophic damage to our coastlines–there will be massive flooding in some of the world’s most heavily populated and vulnerable areas. Storms will increase in intensity–damages from rain, winds, and flooding will be widespread and millions of people will be displaced. Though the psalmist likely didn’t have a clue about such things he was aware of natural disasters–earthquakes were commonplace along the Jordan Rift Valley–and he believed that in such circumstances the Lord was our refuge and strength. This doesn’t mean that we can afford to adopt a casual attitude about the environmental threats that we currently face. Even though the earth will likely survive any damage that humans can inflict, there are things that can be done to mitigate the coming disasters. As we begin to make those necessary changes we can be sure that God will be our very present help in trouble. Despite our careless stewardship, we will survive.

Thought for the Day: What’s our best hope in the face of a changing climate?

Jeremiah 23:1-6

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.” vs. 1

Judah was in a tough spot and Jeremiah was convinced that it was the fault of the kings. Speaking for the Lord, in a biting and forceful sermon, he blames Judah’s shepherds, i.e. kings, for destroying and scattering the people, and he looks forward to a day when a new righteous king will establish justice in the land. As time passed, each time there was a regime change the people hoped for the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy–and they were always disappointed. When Jesus came on the scene there were many who hoped that he would be the one to restore the kingdom–until his last day on earth his disciples were looking for such a restoration. People still have those expectations for would-be rulers–even in a democracy we keep hoping that the president will be a proper shepherd and provide solid leadership for the flock. It’s always disappointing when those who promise to care for the sheep end up fleecing them instead. What we learn from scripture is that ultimately kings of this world are liable to let us down. Occasionally we’ll find one who operates with humility and compassion, but more often they are ego-driven and power hungry. The disciples came to believe that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the only reliable guide for life’s journey. It was true then and it’s doubly true now.

Thought for the Day: Which of our presidents have been good shepherds?

Luke 21:10-19

“This will give you an opportunity to testify.” vs. 13

When early Christians were arrested and hauled before courts and judges they rejoiced at the opportunity they had been given to testify concerning the living presence of Christ Jesus in their lives. That’s generally how it has always worked for people of faith. No matter what disaster or trial may come our way in the course of our journeys it will always provide a chance for witness. In fact, the more we’ve endured, the more suffering that has come our way, the more credible our words and testimony will be. When we can speak of our horrible experiences and still show an attitude of love and forgiveness, what we say will always touch hearts and inspire imitation. Of course that doesn’t come easily to us. Our tendency is to cover up our pain and be silent about the suffering that we’ve endured. Sometimes it hurts to uncover old wounds and make honest confessions about mistakes that we’ve made. But when we open up to others and speak from the heart about the ways God has sustained our spirits in times of turmoil and confusion, it is going to make a difference. We may not have been arrested for believing in Jesus but our stories of perseverance will bring hope and encouragement, and in hearing them, others will also find the strength to endure. 

Thought for the Day: What testimony can I share with hurting people?

Luke 21:5-9

“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” vs. 6

When Jesus visited the temple during his lifetime, most of the restoration work begun by Herod the Great would have been completed. His builders had completely remodeled and redone the temple built by the returning exiles from Babylon. Modeled after Roman buildings it was a work of art and a source of pride for the Jewish people. Jesus’ disciples were impressed–even modern visitors marvel at the carefully hewn massive stones that make up the foundation of the temple mount. Those Galilean fishermen likely stood with their mouths agape–and then Jesus tells them all would be thrown done. It’s hard to overestimate what the loss of the temple meant in those days of tribulation and turmoil. Luke writes at a time when the destruction had likely already taken place and the words he used to describe what happened give us a glimpse of a nation torn apart by rebellion and war. The point is not that Jesus predicted the disaster so much as the effect it had on his disciples. The unthinkable happened! And sometimes it happens to us too. Those things that we had considered as solid and unchangeable fall apart, and we’re left to put together the pieces–if we can. Our blessing is that God does not dwell in a temple built by human hands. Our God transcends the calamities and disasters of life and gives the courage to endure.

Thought for the Day: What unthinkable things have happened in my life?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.” vs. 10

This verse is familiar to folks who are generally unfamiliar with the scriptures. We’ve heard it many times in a variety of contexts. Most often it’s used to buttress the belief that welfare recipients should work in exchange for their benefits. It’s not unusual for people in our country to believe that millions are taking advantage of the welfare system to receive money and services that they do not deserve. In some instances this is undoubtedly true–people are enormously inventive in coming up with clever scams of every kind. But it’s equally true that millions of people are unable to work for a whole variety of reasons and have enormous physical and economic needs. And the bible is very clear in saying that the nation has a responsibility to care for the poor and needy. It’s a shame then that this one verse, the only one of its kind in all of scripture, is used to cast all welfare recipients in a bad light. Paul’s words reflect conditions in one congregation at one particular point in history, a moment when many were expecting the imminent return of Jesus. They should not be used as a pretense for withholding funds from people in desperate need of assistance. Obviously where people are scamming the system there’s a problem to be addressed, but it’s not an excuse to turn our backs on the poor.

Thought for the Day: How do people scam welfare?