23-Nov-25 (Luke 23:33-43)

Have you ever wondered what kind of people will be with us in eternity? In the gospel passage for today, Jesus tells a thief that was hanging next to him on the cross that, "Today, you will be with me in paradise."
Huh?
A thief. Definitely not the kind of person you'd expect and yet Jesus didn't hesitate to tell him that even a thief had a place in the Realm of God.
I suspect that there will be a lot of surprises as we enter that realm.
But the Good News is that people, even fallible people, who others might not expect are welcome in the Realm of God, even people like us.
As we come to the Table, remember the welcome extends to all. No one is excluded. No one can be separated from the love of God. So, come. Come and experience a taste of that Realm which is to come.

Prayer:
God, who calls all of us, not because we are worthy, but because we are in need of your love, God who calls us all, we thank you for Jesus, who showed us your love in acts of flesh and blood. We thank you that he taught us that your love is stronger and able to reach us where we are.
We thank you for this bread and cup, symbols and illustrations of your love.
As we take this communion into ourselves, reform us and remake us to better reflect your image so that through us, the world might see you.
We pray in Jesus' name.
AMEN.