The Beatitudes - 1

In the Byzantine tradition, a few options are normally provided for the antiphons at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. For the Third Antiphon, besides certain psalm verses alternating with the response (on Sundays, "Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to you, alleluia"), the Beatitudes can be choosen.
In this series of meditations, we will be looking at each of the statements in the liturgical setting.

Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your kingdom.
These words were first uttered by the repentent thief on the cross.  And, the Church, in her wisdom, would have us utter the same thing. Why? To remind us that we are, in essence, no better than he.

Yes, he was a thief. But, have you ever stolen anything?  Have you taken time that could have been given to helping your neighbor in need, taken that time and done what you wanted when you could helped? Loved yourself over your neighbor?  Then you've stolen that time.

Have you ever goofed off at work? Then you've stolen time from your employer.

Maybe cheated on your taxes?  Oh, it's a only little, you say. The government will never know.
But God knows. And you know.  You've stolen. 

You're a thief.

OK, maybe it wasn't theft. Maybe sexual sin, maybe false witness.  Maybe you've put your favorite sports team above God, preferring Sunday's game to Sunday's Mass. Maybe you've spent more time reading about the latest celebrity scandal than you did praying or reading the Bible.

The point is, we've all sinned. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

I'm not condemning anybody; I'm just as guilty as the next guy.
But, the next guy? He's hanging on the cross, asking the Creator to remember Him in His kingdom.
Can I do any less?
Can you?