In the Gospel today, there are many questions that seem to be asked, namely, “Are you the King of the Jews, then save Yourself?” “Are You not the Christ?” “Have you no fear of God?”. Yet, it is the one statement uttered by St. Dismas, the Good Thief ~ the Penitent Thief, that causes our Lord to respond. St. Dismas simply asks: “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.” Our Lord responds: “This day you will be with Me in Paradise.” St. Josemaria would encourage us to be as bold as St. Dismas. To ask what he asked. Borrowing a line from St. Thomas Aquinas’ Eucharistic song Adoro Te devote, St. Josemaria says it is his desire to ask for what the Penitent Thief asked for ~ “Peto quod petivit latro pœnitens.” Let us on this Feast of Christ the King ask our Lord and King for just that ~ to be remembered by Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Faithfully Yours In Christ,
Fr. Wayne