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Gospel: Lk. 22: 35-43
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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After I graduated from college and before I entered seminary, I taught 3rd grade in Newark through a program called Teach for America. There were many challenges, but I was honored to contribute to the formation of these children.
Here at Saint Pius X, I also have the privilege of interacting with our youth, particularly those in our faith formation program.
With every group of children I encounter, my own nieces and nephew included, I wonder, “What will they make of their lives? Will one of them cure cancer? Will they help usher in peace among nations? Will they find a share of human happiness?”
But the question that really drives me is, “Will faith influence their decisions? As they grow older, how important will Jesus become in their lives?”
This is my life’s work, and, in many ways yours, to lead others to Jesus.
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In today’s Gospel, we encounter three men. Two of them are thieves. The other is Jesus.
We know little about the two thieves, only that Rome judged their crimes to be worthy of the death penalty.
It’s humbling to imagine that these men were once innocent children, much like the youth in our parish today. But somehow, they’ve reached a dark and dreary end.
“What brought them to this place?”
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Decisions.
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As the saying goes, “We make decisions all the time. Slowly, these decisions define who we are.”
Some of us have made significant decisions: where to go to high school or college, who to vote for, whom we want to marry, what career path to take.
We also make small decisions – what we eat, what to wear, how to comb our hair.
But the most important decision we make is one we’re confronted with all the time, “How important are Jesus and his teachings in my life?”
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It’s a decision these two men dying next to Jesus also must make.
“How important is Jesus in their life?”
One of them scoffs at the Lord, saying sarcastically, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” Sadly, he wastes his final breath dismissing the Lord.
Meanwhile, the other man makes a beautiful profession of faith, saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
This may have been the only act of faith he’s ever made, and look how the Lord rewards him. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Tradition tells us this man’s name was Dismas. With Christ’s blessing, Dismas becomes the first person in scripture promised a place in heaven. All that was asked of him was a simple act of faith.
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What strikes me about this Gospel passage is where these men either did – or did not – come to faith: while slowly dying on a cross.
For the unrepentant thief, this experience of intense suffering led him to anger, bitterness, and rejection of Jesus.
But for Dismas, the repentant thief, his experience of suffering led him to a beautiful profession of faith and an appeal for God’s mercy. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
It’s a dramatic scene that offers all of us something to ponder: “When life is difficult, when suffering comes our way, are we drawn towards the Lord or away from him?”
Faith is not a matter of avoiding suffering. It’s often a matter of seeing Jesus – of turning to him – when we need him most. As the Cross reminds us, God never abandons his people.
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I often wonder, “What will become of the people whom I minister to, especially the young ones among us, my nieces and nephew included? As they grow older, how important will Jesus become in their lives? And how can we as a parish encourage them?”
Faith a decision that we all make day by day – sometimes minute by minute. It’s one that’s always easier when done together.
As our vision statement reminds us, “We are all generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”
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Image credits: (1) Forbes (2) The Catholic Sun, The Feast of St. Dismas (3) God’s Promises are Real
