“Jesus, remember me when you come in Your kingly power” ~ Luke 23:43
By all assumptions, he
wasn’t a man of faith; certainly not somebody who lived a virtuous life. He was
one of two unnamed bandits in Luke's account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Little is
known about him, though tradition often refers to him as ‘Dysmas,’ adopted from
a Greek word meaning “sunset” or “death.” In the eyes of Roman law, he was a
violent criminal.
Dysmas probably hid in
caves near the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and robbed travelers by force. The
fact that he was crucified alongside Jesus suggests the armed bandit brutalized
and perhaps murdered some of his victims before stealing from them. He made a
living by coercion and violence.
Death by crucifixion was
designed to be excruciatingly slow and painful, often taking hours or even
days. Death resulted from asphyxiation, blood loss, or shock.
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The gruesome execution
method was reserved for the most heinous criminals. The brutality and public
display of crucifixion were meant to cause severe humiliation and serve as a
deterrent for future criminal wannabes.
That day on Calvary,
three would die. The villain to Jesus’s left mocked Him, saying, “If You are
the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39). Dysmas on Jesus' right, chided his fellow thief, conceding:
“We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man has done nothing
wrong" (Luke
23:40-41).
In a remarkable
display of faith, Dysmas turned to Jesus and said, "Jesus, remember me
when You come into Your kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). We don’t know why Dysmas changed his mind about Jesus. But
while dying, he honestly acknowledged his wrongdoings and asked forgiveness,
seeking Jesus as the source of eternal life.
Jesus replied with a
promise of salvation, saying, “I assure you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43). His words illustrate
the power of repentance and the immediacy of God's grace, grace that was given
freely through faith and not earned by Dysmas’ works.
The story offers a
vivid illustration of several biblical Truths. First, it’s never too late to
turn to God. Despite a despicable life, Dysmas’s
last-minute confession secured his place in Heaven.
Second, no sin is too horrific
to be forgiven. Dysmas had already received a death sentence for his sins. Yet,
according to Jesus, it was forgivable. And third, that means there’s hope for us,
too.
The Catholic Church never formally canonized St. Dysmas,
though he’s regarded as a saint because Jesus declared that he would be in
Paradise. His relics rest in Notre Dame’s Reliquary Chapel, including a piece
of St. Dysmas’ cross. He’s known as the patron saint of Condemned Prisoners,
Undertakers, and Repentant Thieves. His feast day is recognized annually on the
25th of March.
Precious Lord, we’re all like Dysmas. We’ve
sinned against You and deserve Your wrath. We pray that despite our weaknesses,
we may be revived by the spilled blood of Your
Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen
