Jesus Remember Me

            We call him Dismis, although if you look closely at scripture, we really don’t know his name.  We do know some things about him, though.  We know that he was a criminal.  We know that even in his own mind, he felt he deserved to be punished for his sins.  We know that although he was in extreme pain, he had compassion for the man on the cross next to him.  This Jesus, whom the Romans had treated particularly bad, mocking him and scourging him, putting a crown of thorns on him, this Jesus still radiated kindness and love.  He heard Jesus say something that was beyond anything the world had experienced.  He heard Jesus forgive all those who had been so cruel to him.

            The kindness and the love flowing from the Lord on his cross overwhelmed the good thief.  He prayed to the man on the cross next to him.  He called out to him, “Lord, remember me when you come into you kingdom.” And he heard the Lord promise him that he would be the first to enjoy Christ’s victory, “I tell you, this day you will be with me in paradise.”

            We sing the Taize rendition of Dismis’ prayer throughout Lent and Holy Week.  “Lord, Remember me, when you come into your Kingdom.”   None of us are thinking about Dismis, though.  His prayer has become our prayer.  We realize that we need the Lord’s mercy and compassion.  We realize that the end of his life is the beginning of our eternal lives.  We ask him in the deepest humility, to remember us.  Look at us with kindness and sympathy.