It should be the absolute goal of each and every person on earth to hear the words we have just heard spoken to the good thief! “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise!” We should long to hear them!
The thief, Dismas, asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Dismas knew that Jesus truly was the King of the Jews - as the sign posted above his head read. It was his faith that told him so! And, in the last moments of his life, Dismas was able to be a recipient of the promised grace and mercy; the reconciliation and redemption that would become effective momentarily, when Jesus breathed his last!
Jesus’ Kingdom is not only in Paradise! Jesus’ kingdom is wherever he is! Jesus’ kingdom fills the earth and all things in it! All things come from him, are in him, and will return to him! Jesus Christ IS King of the Universe!
The Church uses this particular feast to wrap up the entire Liturgical Calendar - to underline the fact that everything we have experienced in the past year - in celebrating Advent/Christmas; Lent/Easter; Pentecost -is all about THE ONE PERSON IN HUMAN HISTORY WHO MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OF US! Jesus Christ!
Descended from David’s royal line (as we read in the first reading) - Jesus was destined not only to become a succeeding King of Israel - but also King of the Gentiles as well - King and ruler of all hearts of peoples of all lands.
St. Paul in his letter to the Colossian Gentiles reminds them that Jesus IS all in all - the firstborn of all creation - that the primacy is his - and that he is head of the body, the Church! And most importantly, that reconciliation and peace for all comes from the blood that he shed on the cross!
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord,” we sang as our psalm response today! Our lives are meant to be an adventurous, exciting, sometimes fearful, sometimes joyful; sometimes sad, sometimes happy journey to the Paradise where Dismas now lives!
May we faithfully keep our friendship with Jesus-the-person central in our lives! Let us hail him as our King today! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! And may we do all we can to demonstrate to others that the way to peace in the worldly kingdoms in which we live - is to find an example in the greatest Kingdom and in the unparalleled King of Kings and Lord of Lords! His kingdom is one of justice, peace and holliness! It is one of true freedom and respect for each and every member! His kingdom is LOVE!
Jesus, one day, when it counts the most, may we hear: “This day, you shall be with me in Paradise!”
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