Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, 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."
(Luke 23: 39-43)

Reflection by the Bickerstaff Family

I will forever be known as “The Good Thief,” which is entirely wrong; I don’t think there’s ever been anything good in me. I preferred to think of myself as a Zealot but really, I was just a thief.  We went around creating problems for the Romans, but in my heart, it was less about liberation and more about the loot.   We traveled around a lot so as not to be found which is how I knew who Jesus was.  He traveled about too and on more than one occasion I listened to his words from the edge of the crowd.  They had such power, such truth, like nothing I had ever heard.  My heart was so moved by him and by his miracles that I burned with desire to become his disciple and follow him.  Alas, I am weak.  When Gestas came to get me for the planning of our next raid, I went with him and buried my desire for Jesus’ words. 

I saw Jesus a few more times after that, and it was always the same, that burning desire to follow this Teacher and miracle worker.  But each time I gave in to my weakness and continued to keep the same poor company.  That decision landed me on the cross.  How great the irony of it all!  Here Gestas and I were suffering the same punishment as Jesus.  I couldn’t understand how that could be.  So, when Gestas started his taunts of this Holy Man I finally broke.  It was the first time I ever stood up to him when I told him to shut up.

I’m not sure where those words came from: “Jesus, remember me when You come into your Kingdom.” But here I am.  Who could ever have imagined that I could be the first to enter Paradise and look upon the Face of God? I who had killed, stolen, and raped was given forgiveness.  Truly there is no limit to God's Mercy.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
~John 19: 25-27

Even though Mary and His beloved disciple were probably sad seeing Jesus on the cross, they still understood that it needed to happen and His sacrifice was being done for all of us. Jesus, please help us to be like Your Mother and Your beloved disciple; help us to remain with You, even when our own cross feels heavy.  Help us to see Your great love for us.

Mary trusted God when the angel spoke to her at the conception of Jesus, and now she is being asked to trust God again. Dear Lord, help us to trust, even when we don't fully understand why things happen the way they do.

Jesus gave His Mother to His beloved disciple. May we be like His beloved disciple and receive Mary into our hearts, so she can lead us even closer to Jesus. Mary was asked by Jesus to care for His disciple, and she will help care for us too. She is a model of great faith in God, great love for Jesus, and great hope through the Holy Spirit.
~ The Teska Family

Luke 23:28-31

WOMEN:      (Crying and wailing) “Jesus, oh Jesus, you only loved us.  Jesus, may your kind heart find peace.”

JESUS:          (Jesus stops to comfort women weeping as He carries His cross.)  “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never fed a child!'
(Then they will begin to say) ‘Mountains, fall on us'; ‘Hills, cover us'. For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Reflection: Jesus spent much time with women during His life and ministry on earth.  

The women He met along His journey to Golgotha teach us the beauty of human emotions.  We should not be ashamed when our heart is moved by compassion, when we cry, or feel the need to be comforted.
Jesus reassures the women that the story will not end with His death.
Those who judge Christ worthy of death will, in the end, meet the judgment of God.

Jesus’ gaze turns to the divine judgement soon to be visited on the evil, injustice, and hatred that feed that flame. Christ is distressed at the grief that those mothers will feel once God’s just intervention comes upon humankind.

Yet He speaks with a voice that creates not suffering and death, but conversion and life: “Seek the Lord and live… Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

~ The Macon Family

And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

When this story was related to our children, they said they “feel grateful that Simon helped Jesus yet sad because they both had to carry this heavy cross.” Simon could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or maybe he was chosen because he had shown sympathy to Jesus. Either way, Simon helped Jesus on his journey, even though he probably wasn’t sure why and didn’t want to be involved. Like Simon, we should try to help others when they are struggling. Hopefully we can do this with intent that is aimed at making the people we are helping feel better, and without expectation for ourselves. Because, to paraphrase our children: Everyone has to go through hard experiences, but during those times help, understanding and companionship really go a long way to ease a burden.

~ The Doherty Family

The Martin Family walks the Way of the Cross with Jesus.