A Thief’s Hope: The Saving Love of Jesus
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Luke 23:32-43
Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine, they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled him, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Grace Prayed For
The grace prompted by this passage is the grace of abandonment to God’s saving love. It is the grace to surrender our self-sufficiency and our fears, and to allow God to act freely in us. It is the grace to trust that no matter what we’ve done or who we are, Jesus’ desire to save us is greater.
Reflection
This passage presents a profound image of Jesus’ desire to save us. In the midst of unimaginable suffering and humiliation, Jesus is not focused on his own pain. He’s focused on the other. His first words from the cross are a prayer for forgiveness for his executioners. This is the heart of God: a radical, unconditional love that reaches out even to those who inflict the deepest wounds. He sees beyond their actions to their ignorance and forgives them. This is the same forgiveness Jesus offers you, a forgiveness that doesn’t wait for you to be perfect, but meets you right where you are.
But the most intimate moment in this passage is the exchange with the “good thief.” This man, a criminal who justly deserved his punishment, sees something different in Jesus. He sees a king, a man of power and compassion. He doesn’t ask to be saved from his cross; he asks to be remembered in the kingdom. This simple, humble plea is an act of profound faith. And Jesus’ response is not a theological dissertation or a lengthy list of requirements. It’s a direct, personal promise: “today you will be with me in Paradise.” This isn’t just about a future heaven; it’s about an immediate, intimate presence with Jesus. It’s a love that says, “I see you, I know your heart, and I desire to be with you, right now, for all eternity.”
This is the message for us. Jesus desires to save us. He doesn’t wait for us to be worthy. He meets us in our brokenness, on our cross, and offers us a place in his kingdom. When we allow this truth to sink into our hearts, it transforms everything. We are not alone in our struggles or our sin. We are deeply loved by a God who wants nothing more than to be with us. This is how we grow in intimacy with the Trinitarian God—by accepting the Father’s forgiveness, embracing the Son’s saving love, and allowing the Holy Spirit to act freely within us, to transform us from the inside out.
Once we’ve received this love, we can’t keep it to ourselves. We are called to be like Jesus on the cross—to look at the world and see beyond the brokenness to the person in need of love and forgiveness. Our own experience of being saved by Christ gives us the compassion and conviction to share that same love with others. We become partners with Jesus in the restoration of all creation, one person, one encounter at a time. We carry the promise of Paradise not just in our hearts, but in our actions and words, so that others, too, may know the saving love of Jesus.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in our daily lives doesn’t require a pulpit or a profound sermon. It’s about being a Ways to Evangelize in Daily Life
Evangelizing in our day-to-day life is less about grand speeches and more about living a life that reflects the love we’ve received. We can evangelize by:
Serving others humbly: Fulfilling our baptismal mission means partnering with Jesus to restore creation. This can be as simple as helping a neighbor, volunteering, or using our gifts to serve others without seeking recognition. Each act of service is a small piece of the kingdom made real on earth.
Practicing radical forgiveness: Like Jesus on the cross, we can choose to forgive those who have wronged us, demonstrating God’s unconditional love.
Listening with empathy: When someone is sharing their struggles, listen without judgment, just as Jesus listened to the good thief. Your presence and compassion can be a sign of God’s love.
Speaking words of hope: In a world filled with despair, offer words of encouragement and hope. This is a simple yet powerful way to reflect the promise of Paradise.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post