At Epiphany we acknowledge Christ as a baby King.

Later in the Gospels, Jesus the man, calls His kingdom “paradise.” He says to the good thief “today you will be with me in Paradise”

What is my notion of paradise?

Christ’s notion of paradise is eternal life.

But according to the gospel and his conversation with the good thief, it is also the place where God chooses to embrace our:

•             Hurt

•             Pain

and        Heartache

It is where God enters into the world of:

•             Indifference

•             Loneliness

and        Despair

God enters so that He may listen,

lift from our shoulders all that burdens us,

and place it upon His own……………………carrying the cross for us.

My Notion of Paradise

 is when I am:

•             Listened to

•             Respected

•             Loved

•             Forgiven

Through baptism, we are all members of God’s Royal Family. We are anointed Priests, Prophets, Kings and Queens.

We too hold the keys of the Kingdom.

And with them, we are called to do our best to lift the weight of hardship from the shoulders of others.

To listen, to respect, to love and to forgive.