March 25: The day on which we honor a little-known prisoner!

To Roman Catholics and to Doug Tjapkes, March 25 is a special day. To most protestants, it’s just another day. 

In the RC Church, today is considered the Feast Day of St. Dismas. And it’s based on a neat story in the Gospel according to Luke. 

Dr. Luke explains that when Jesus was wrongfully convicted and executed on an old, rugged cross, there were two other guys on crosses, flanking him on each side. One of these thugs kept harassing Jesus: “Are you not the Messiah?  Save yourself and us.”  

The other criminal, however, was having second thoughts. He had words for his companion and a request to Jesus: “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.” 

Our Lord was touched by that request, and promptly responded: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”. 

Tradition has it that the guy’s name was Dismas, and because of this story of the “penitent thief,” he is recognized today by the Catholic Church. And by this writer. 

On March 25, 2024, I find this story is especially significant, because we are seeing and hearing demonstrations of hatred and vitriol, all allegedly coming from the evangelical Christian community. 

All of this has prompted preacher John Pavlovitz to write: 

I’m not sure what all this angry, chest-thumping, bullying, “don’t tread on me” thing that we’ve come to call Christianity is, but here’s what I do know:

It isn’t the Gospel.

It isn’t Good News for the poor and marginalized.

It isn’t the Prince of Peace.

It isn’t the perfect love that casts out fear.

It isn’t Jesus by any measure.

It’s a toxic cocktail of power, control, fear, nationalism, and white privilege—and it looks much more like the bloated opulence of Rome than the early Church that resisted it. 

Concludes Pavlovitz: “Human beings' capacity for inhumanity is staggering.” 

That’s why I find the St. Dismas story so meaningful this year. It reminds us that we are not imitating Jesus when we spout and act out words of libel and hatred. The Jesus whose life was snuffed out on Good Friday preached love during his short period of ministry, healing the sick, comforting the sad, and demonstrating forgiveness…even when he was dying. 

And, on March 25, we are reminded, once again, that regardless of the number of skeletons in our own closet, we have been forgiven…just like that dude hanging next to Jesus! 

 Nothing in my hand I bring,

simply to the cross I cling…

Rock of Ages

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