Monday, November 14, 2016

Luke 23:39-43       

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 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.

Today

Whatever else today is, it is and can always be paradise, the presence of Love. In every love, the One who is Love is present, to bless and make alive.

Outward circumstances may be horrendous and painful or they may shine with the light of a beautiful new day. But outward circumstances do not make or break paradise. Paradise is dwelling in the Presence of the Love who calls you beloved, who reveals the startling truth that you are loved … and can love … beyond anything you imagined.

Paradise is knowing the Love from whom all things come, the Love who holds all things together. It is the fulfillment of the heart’s deepest longing for communion in the simple Presence of the Love that heals every broken corner of the heart, replacing every resentment with love.

Paradise is hearing the Voice for which you long in moments when your heart aches. It is the peace that floods the heart when you know nothing more needs to be done than to throw yourself, your joys and sorrows at the feet of the Love who has always wanted you and always will.

Paradise is not a perfect life but the wholeness of love. And it is today … and every day we hear the Voice.

Today you will be with me in paradise.

This should be our morning prayer every day, a listening to the Voice who promises the Love he is … today.

Pr. David L. Miller