The setting is Golgotha. It is the place of skulls. Jesus is breathing his last. He is hanging on a cross. On either side is a criminal. They too, are gasping for breath. One criminal speaks to Jesus. His words reveal knowledge. He knows Jesus in this life. He hopes to know Jesus in the next. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
A dying man, a criminal expending his final breaths, asks Jesus if he can be a part of his kingdom. What, in God’s name, does this criminal think is the nature of Jesus’ kingdom? Jesus is hanging on a cross next to him. They are both dying. The lives of both men are being extinguished as criminals in the empire’s death chamber. And yet, in their final moments, they will know life – they will breathe together; conspire. That is the meaning of con-spire. It is to breathe together. All humanity breathes together, but do we know it? Together, let us conspire, intentionally so. We breathe life into the world. We breathe a reviving togetherness. Even should those armed with weapons such as the cross target us, we assert there is no final end to we who reach out in hope whether we bear the breath of criminals or Christs or a mixture. We assert life will persist – always passing on to those who will inspire for tomorrow. No ultimate death we assert – always giving ourselves over to youth who follow. No matter the folly of that which we are accused. No matter the fear that we cannot face death. We can and we do and as we do we conspire – for life. This day, we are together in paradise.
“When my last breath Grows large and free in air, don’t call it death — A word to enrich the undertaker … conspire Against him. Say that my body cannot now Be improved upon; it has no fault to show … “At last, to be a traveler; that too will be so. Traveler to where? Say you don’t know. But do not let your ignorance Of my spirit’s whereabouts dismay You, or overwhelm your thoughts. Be careful not to say Anything too final. Whatever Is unsure is possible, and life is bigger Than flesh.” (Testament – Wendell Berry)
Prayer: Spirit, may we breathe life into the people and structures that would condemn us to death.
Question: With whom do I best conspire?
November 20, 2016 Gospel Luke 23:35-43 Christ The King (Thirty-Fourth and Last Sunday in Ordinary Time)