Luke 23:35-43

Meditatio (Reflecting)

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.”

Oratio (Responding)

Can you imagine Jesus saying that you? St. Dismas, is a saint because we know that he is in heaven by Jesus’ own mouth. He is not a saint because he lived a good life. He was a robber, he was most likely a murderer. He lived a live of selfishness and sin. But His life was totally worth it because he recognized the lord before he died. He recognized Jesus, he recognized his sin, and, he asked that Jesus only remember him, He did not say take me with you, and save me from the punishment that I deserve. He instead asked simply that you remember me. This humble act of repentance and recognition of sin should be a reminder to us about the infinite mercy of Jesus, and a call to us that we believe that Jesus is waiting to tell us the same thing if we would simply confess our sins, and return to him in the eucharist. Dismas is the model for us of contrition, we know that to be true because of Jesus’ own words. So today humbly confess your sins, ask for Jesus’ forgiveness, and he will remember you at the time of your judgement. And then later when you sin again, start over at square one, and after a life of sin and repentance you may actually get to see Jesus in all of his glory, and partake in the paradise of his beatific vision forever.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Oh lord, help me today to recognize my sin, and the humbly ask for your forgiveness. Help me to be clean, because I so long to hear your voice in paradise, and see you in your glory. Amen