November 20th 2022 – The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

So often in our lives and in our world we hear about how someone wants to be remembered for something they have done or accomplished. If you are an actor you may want to be remembered for that role that won you the Oscar. If you’re an athlete perhaps it’s that winning homerun that won the World Series. Or maybe it’s just wanting to be remembered for who we are, how we lived our lives and what we fought for and cared about. The bottom line is that none of us want to be forgotten. We would like at the very least for our families to remember us and think about us often after we are gone and even share stories and remembrances about us with others.

When I think about being remembered, I think about today’s Gospel. Jesus is being crucified between 2 thieves, the one thief is mocking Jesus along with the rulers and soldiers saying “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” He like so many of us in our world today does not want to take responsibility for his actions and what got him where he is.

So many of us make excuses for our actions or even blame others for getting us into trouble. I can think back to when I was a child and hitting golf balls in my backyard. The houses on our block were close together and my brother and I hit a ball into our neighbors window. We did not tell anyone, and tried to hide it. However, the golf balls had my dad’s name on them and soon after the ball went through the window we heard the doorbell ring, and it was our neighbors.

I tried to blame my brother for the incident claiming that he “made” me do it. I did not want to take responsibility for my part in this accident and so I tried to throw him under the bus. I tried to save myself and place the sole blame on him. Just like that one thief who asked Jesus to save him and Himself if He was the Christ, I wanted to take the easy way out.

The thief on the other side of Jesus however is different. This thief sees Jesus for who He really is and takes responsibility for His actions recognizing Jesus as God and asking for forgiveness. He says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus says to this thief; “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

We all want to be remembered; we have all sinned. When we sin we separate ourselves from the love of God. Like the thief who asks for Jesus to forgive and remember him, we too want to be put back together, be made whole and be remembered.

The truth is Jesus could have easily come down from the cross and shown His power, but instead He shows His love for us all. He has His arms outstretched on that cross, stretched out for you and me. It is through Jesus’s love and forgiveness and what He does on that cross that you and I are made whole! When we recognize who Christ is and all that He has done for us we understand what a gift is given to each of us as Jesus reveals His promise to us all; “You will be with me in paradise!