Jesus, remember me.



 I was incredibly moved this Palm Sunday by a little detail in the Passion reading - which I have heard and/or read at least 50 times in my life.


I used to preach to students about how you should read something once and then maybe twice and then try to read it again after a few years of life… you’ll be amazed at what you find. Amazed at what you never noticed before.

 As a teacher, I seriously could have taught Scarlet Letter or To Kill a Mockingbird for an ENTIRE year. (I read Scarlet Letter 41 times and To Kill a Mockingbird 16 times.) I found a new detail almost each time for each novel. Talk about amazing!


But I digress.


The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is one mass I know many dread. 

It’s long. 

It’s sad. 

We’ve heard before. 

Fussy kids whacking each other with palm branches in itchy clothes.  Or fussy kids during Friday nap time trying to rock them to sleep and you yourself not paying a bit of attention.

I know. (Been there.)

But I really tried this year to focus on the word choice and when I did - I noticed something that I never had before. 

As Jesus hangs on the cross, two criminals are on either side. It’s not just a detail to provide you a landscape in your mind. I think there’s more to it than that. 

The line by the good thief, Dismas- though that likely wasn’t his real name- says: “Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom.” And Jesus’ reply: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Who else got to hear that from Jesus?

Who else got to know STRAIGHT from the mouth of Jesus that they have a ticket to Heaven?

Who?

Not the disciples- his closest friends.

Not his earthly Father. 

Not his beautiful Blessed Mother.

Though these aforementioned are with Him in Heaven there is no textual evidence from Jesus that flat out says, “Yes, YOU get to come to Heaven. Here’s my word to YOU.”

So why does a thief get in?

Why does a person who didn’t play a great role in anything involving Jesus - birth to death - get into Heaven?

Why does a person who had done much wrong, a man who sinned more than just a time or two, get into Heaven?

Why?





I think we can learn a lot here… maybe because in Dismas’ most vulnerable moment - hanging on a cross next to Our Lord - he asks if Jesus will remember him inferring that Dismas believes without a shadow of doubt that Jesus is the King of Kings. And Jesus is able to utter out a promise to a man he doesn’t know while dying on a cross that they will be together in paradise. 

Crucifixion - in a way- is like suffocating. Every breath is too much work. So speaking - in FULL sentences - is not easy. But Jesus does it here. 

Does Jesus love sinners that much?

Does Jesus love sinners who turn with undeniable faith that much?

I think we can find so much joy in this horrific moment.

Imagine having faith like Dismas.

Imagine what kind of love Jesus has.

It’s hard to fully comprehend.

And that alone brings me peace like I’ve never known.




What strikes me so much about my journey personally with Jesus, my faith, and the Catholic religion (an absolute work in progress for me by the way) is how I believe that for some reason - intentional or unintentional- we as Catholics and Christians do not have all the Bible stories or books available to us. I feel strongly that there are significant missing pieces. Word of mouth stories and even once written down stories tend to lose pieces along the years, along the decades, along the centuries. Sometimes people of power burn pages or whole books containing information that doesn’t suit their needs or the needs of the greater community at a certain time in history. And stories get lost. And I think a few important stories - or at least important details or perspectives - really have. 


Because of Dismas, I have felt much closer to Jesus this Palm Sunday, this start of Holy Week, than many Lenten or Holy Weeks past - arguably ever.


It’s comforting to know that through my sins and my faults and my wrong doings and my mistakes that I can go to Jesus in my most vulnerable state admitting I am not perfect, but that I whole heartedly believe in Him and trust that He will grant me permission into paradise one day. 


My prayer this week is simple: 

Jesus, remember me.



Have a blessed Holy Week.


Much love always,

Samantha

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