Paradise. A loan word from the Persian picture of an enclosed park or garden. This picture, of course, calls to mind something familiar: The Garden of Eden. The word Luke uses is the same word used in the Septuagint referring to Eden. And what was Eden? It spoke of radical union with God, the other and one’s self. But that’s not the end of the story of Eden. The story unravels and speaks of disintegration, splitting, conflict and banishment. What was once a place for humans to grow and flourish and employ their calling is now a distant memory. And should one want to find their way back, the entrance is guarded by an angel with a flaming sword.
This story is echoed in other places and other wisdom traditions. It speaks of the universal longing to enjoy the union with God and with all things. The sort of union manifested in Paradise. This is the picture John offers in Revelation when he refers to the “paradise of God” (Revelation 2.7). And this is the same word-picture Jesus offers the rebel dying with him on the cross. Which is an interesting moment. For it is there, being crucified with Christ, that the rebel understands who Jesus is. And there, dying next to a rebel, Jesus says, “You will be with me …” And what does Jesus invite his followers to? To be crucified. Perhaps, this rebel, is in many ways the first disciple. And in picking up his cross, in losing his life, he finds it in Jesus - in Paradise.
March 5, 2023: Dirt - Michael Hidalgo
February 26, 2023: A Picture of the Divine - Dave Neuhausel
February 19, 2023: The Message is The Medium
February 12, 2023: Girl Stand Up - Bekah Stewart
February 5, 2023: Living in the Tombs - Michael Hidalgo
January 29, 2023: And Also - Jonathan Merritt
January 22, 2023: Four Wisdom Sayings - Michael Hidalgo
January 15, 2023: Nothing Wasted - Amanda Lum
January 8, 2023: The Tragedy of Loving Little - Michael Hidalgo
December 24, 2022: The Extraordinary Ordinary
December 18, 2022: Kings and Other Things - Michael Hidalgo
December 11, 2022: A New Exodus - Bekah Stewart
December 4, 2022: Go Back a Different Way - Michael Hidalgo
November 26, 2022: Take Her Home - Michael Hidalgo
November 20, 2022: You Were Expecting Me? - Amanda Lum
November 11, 2022: A Tale of Two Crowds - Michael Hidalgo
November 6, 2022: Faith in the One Who Sees You
October 30, 2022: Good News for Postmodern Humanity - Brian McLaren
October 23, 2022: Living the Future in the Present - Michael Hidalgo
October 16, 2022: When You Can’t Go Back - Michael Hidalgo
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