Luke 23:33-43, NRSV
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."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's Blog Reflection
As I have written in previous blog posts this past year, this will be the final blog entry for Br. Anselm Philip's Many Thoughts. The blog itself will remain up and available for those who wish to read the seven years of posts that are on here. However, I will not be writing new posts after this one.
I want to thank those who have followed my blog since I began writing it in the Fall of 2009 following The National Equality March. Thank you if you began reading this blog at any point since then. Thank you if you just stopped by and read one post or a few. Thank you if you liked it. Thank you if you didn't. There are memories, stories, commentaries, rants, celebrations, lamentations, spiritual direction, etc throughout the blog posts. They will remain here for you to read.
I will be making regular additions to the other blog I started entitled Simple Reflections for a Deeper Spiritual Life, beginning with the First Sunday of Advent. By this time next week, it will be it's own domain. I look forward to sharing with you on that blog.
In my final installment, I want us to think about what the Cross means to us as Christians. What does the Cross mean for us in this political environment where racism, sexism, islamophobia, trans-phobia and all the others now have a license to thrive? How do we see our role as Christians who look to our Lord Jesus Christ as King, who gave His life for us on the Cross?
I invite all of us to consider the thoughts I am sharing here today.
On the Cross, Jesus our King met scapegoating at its very worst, and pronounced it unacceptable. It really doesn't matter if every person believes in Jesus in the same way as Christians do. It really doesn't matter if one is Jewish, Muslim, Native American, African American, white, male, female, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer. It does not matter if we are disabled or able to leap to the moon. Whether we are rich or poor. A "legal" or "illegal" immigrant. What matters for Christians is that our Lord Jesus Christ, who is King for us, declared that sacrificial love as His ultimate power; and no one was excluded from God's love. Hatred hurled at the Word made Flesh with all fury. Jesus who was the Son of God and Son of Man (or the Human One), was stripped, beaten, nailed to the cross next to two thieves and even gave over His relationship with God to love the most and the least of us. At His Resurrection, the story began in new life.
Why is the unconditional and all inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ not the best reason for Christians to love others without exception? The sin of Christians is not whether we all agree with every installment of the Nicene Creed. It is our refusal to allow the love of God in Christ to penetrate us to the core of ourselves by way of those who are lonely, weary, different from us and in need of love. It has something to do with what our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls the Jesus Movement that empowers Christians to make the world a better place.
In The Rule of Saint Benedict ( you didn't think I wouldn't use that in my last blog post did you? LOL), Chapter 53, he wrote "Let all guests who present themselves be received as Christ." On the Cross, Jesus promised the other thief who mocked him, and suddenly believed in him the promise of paradise. The thief was the presence of Christ to Christ Himself. He listened. He welcomed Him. He found a place in God's Kingdom even for him. So Jesus made a place for each of us at His Father's table.
Today, Jesus our King, calls on us from the throne of God's love on the Cross to receive Christ in those who are different from ourselves. Jesus asks for us to listen to Him speak to us through their stories. Jesus calls on us to give to Him a place of love. Jesus seeks someone to love Him in those who are marginalized, beaten and left in the trenches of our social and political system. He asks us to reach out our hands and voices to support them, give them a place in our churches, our communities and hearts; so that they may find a home with Jesus in this world and the next.
Imagine what the Church, what society would look like if we met Jesus at the Cross, claimed Him as King and allowed His unconditional and all-inclusive love to transform us and the world around us.
I am sure many who have read my blog posts over the years have asked if this is possible. I believe the Angel had something to say about that at the Annunciation. "With God, all things are possible."
I think this is a good answer. Don't you?
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all
things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of
lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided
and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together
under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.236).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).
