“Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’
The other criminal, however, said ‘This man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” Luke 23: 39-42

Unlike the first criminal who could not empathize with Jesus because of his understandable but all-consuming desire to be saved from death, the second criminal was able to empathize with a Jesus unjustly suffering at the hands of a misguided, angry people.

• What all-consuming everyday activities can I “dial down” to enable more engagement in my transformation into the fullness of my God-centered personhood?

Unlike the first criminal who could not see he must engage himself with God in his salvation, the second criminal actively aligns his heart with Godly sentiments. He accepted his deserved punishment but knew that even in his wrongdoing God was still the King of his heart.

• Help me, O God, not to sit back and wait for You to rescue me from my evil inclinations?  Let me hide not my face from you out of shame for my sins.

Sister Loretta Fernandez RSM