Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98: 4-9)

It is my emerging conviction that redemption - what some would call the second coming or parousia - is ongoing. The invitation has been extended to be joyously reconciled with our origins and purposes. We may choose to accept the invitation or not.

I understand Jesus to be my redeemer. During his life many were looking to the arrival of a redeemer. Jesus was rejected by some because he did not conform to their expectations of the redemptive process. Today many look for Jesus to return. I perceive he is already with us. But we often do not recognize the opportunity for redemption because it does not conform with our expectations.

The translator has chosen a future tense for the ninth verse. Ancient Hebrew does not have a future tense, rather a verb is either finished or not finished. Another translation - more accurate its seems to me - would be, "Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He is judging the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity."

Our redeemer is coming, judging, loving, abiding, listening, acting, doing, singing and redeeming. Our redeemer is with us today.

Above is The Bride (Unfinished) by Gustav Klimt.