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.
October 9, 2022: The World Is Always Ending - Jonathan Merritt
October 2, 2022: Good, Rotten, Foolish and Wise - Michael Hidalgo
September 25, 2022: Splinters In The Lumber Yard - Michael Hidalgo
September 18, 2022: The One About Obedience - Michael Hidalgo
September 11, 2022: Behold What Love Can Do - Cari Jenkins
September 4, 2022: The Messy Middle - Dave Neuhausel
August 28, 2022: Finding Delight - Amanda Lum
August 21, 2022: Jesus is the Question - Bekah Stewart
August 14, 2022: A Deeper Breath of Tenderness - Ryan Taylor
August 7, 2022: The Problem with Peacekeeping - Paula Williams
July 31, 2022: On The Move - Landon Lynch
July 24, 2022: On The Move - Kristin Wright
July 17, 2022: On the Move - Cari Jenkins
July 3, 2022: On The Move - Michelle Cazas
June 26, 2022: Is There A Doctor In The House? - Scott Oppliger
June 19, 2022: I’m Not Done Hoping For You - Amanda Lum
June 12, 2022: You Can If You Want To - Bekah Stewart
June 5, 2022: Did You Catch Anything? - Maggie Knight
May 29, 2022: Deepest Gladness, Greatest Need - Mike Goldsworthy
May 22, 2022: You Can’t Say That Here - Dave Meserve
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