Jesus Remember Me

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

This week’s ‘Sunday Song’ is a simple Taizé song, quoting the words of the robber crucified with Jesus.  

I’m reading Solomon Northrup’s ’12 Years a Slave’. Born a free man in 1808, he’s kidnapped and sold into slavery. Fully aware of his lost his freedom and his uncertain future he says:

‘My cup of sorrow was full to overflowing. Then I lifted up my hands to God, and in the still watches of the night, …begged for mercy on the poor forsaken captive. To the Almighty Father of us all – the freeman and the slave – I poured forth the supplications of a broken spirit, imploring strength from on high to bear up against the burden of my troubles, until the morning light aroused the slumbers, ushering another day of bondage.’

Musing… The song… the anonymous crucified thief… Solomon Northrup… remind me… Prayer is for the broken, those without help or hope.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Jesus answers the thief, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 I’m reading Julian of Norwich’s ‘Revelations of Divine Love’. This fourteenth century mystic writes of visions that she had of Jesus’ suffering. She describes when we shall ‘enter into our Lord…’:

‘…clearly knowing ourselves and fully possessing God. And we shall all be unendingly held in God, seeing him truly, feeling him fully, hearing him spiritually, smelling him delectably and swallowing him sweetly; and then we shall see God face to face, fully and familiarly; the creature that is made shall see and endlessly contemplate God, who is the Maker…’ 

Musing… Perhaps Julian is describing what Jesus promises the thief… My imagination is stirred… my faith’s deepened… my hope’s restored.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.