Dismas & Gestas

Luke 23:35-43

The names of the two robbers comes down to us from tradition. The bible does not say their names but we know their names from other writings, and stories that have been passed down over the milenia. The bad thief’s name was Gestas, and good thief’s name is Dismas. We now call him St. Dismas. We know that he is a saint because Jesus himself said that he would be with Him in heaven and that is the definition of a saint. He is not a saint because he lived a good life, or did anything in his life that deserved heaven. He was a robber, and he was most likely a murderer, and he lived a life of selfishness and sin.

However, there is a story that has been passed down through pious tradition that Dismas, and his compatriot Gestas, would find pilgrims on the roads to Jerusalem and would steal whatever they could from them. It is said that these men had met Jesus, Mary and Joseph on the road after the nativity, and after the three kings had bestowed their gifts of great wealth upon them. But because of the holiness of the holy Family, The spirit moved in Dismas and as a result he talked his partner Gestas out of robbing them and allowed them to pass unharmed on their way. The story is folk lore, but I feel that it is totally believable. But more importantly I think that it speaks beautifully to the inner soul of Dismas, and probably why he was ultimately able to accept the punishment that he was recieving on the cross, and to see Jesus for who He really was.

So who was Jesus, really? We today, know that He is Christ, the king of the universe. But have you ever wondered why this reading was paired with today’s feast? When you think of a king, the idea of a naked man nailed to a cross does not immediately come to mind. That image is quite litterally the very last thing that most of us would concieve of when asked to describe a king. But in fact, Jesus in this moment had reached the pinnacle of his kingship, and the reason why he was incarnated as man to begin with.

I want to draw your attention to a couple things that proceed this moment in the gospel…, things that might escape most people’s notice. First is that seamless garment that Jesus was wearing all throughout His passion. This cloak was made in one piece, it was difficult to make, and only the great high priest of the kingdom would ever wear one. It was a symbol of priestly position and authority. Second is the scarlet cloak that was placed on Him by the romans after he was scourged and given a crown of thorns. It is believed by scholars like Tim Grey that this was the robe that the great high priest would wear on the high holy days to enter into the holy of holies in the temple to make sacrifice to the lord. This robe was kept in the posession of the romans, at all times, except the high holy days, because of its extravagance and its beauty which rivaled that of ceasars, and as such the jews could not be allowed to possess it except once a year. And finally, there is the message that pilot nailed to the top of the cross above Jesus’ head, which read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” in three languages. It is comical that despite all of the jewish leaders efforts, the romans recognized Jesus as king even if it was simply in mockery. They got it right, but his own people did not recognize Him.

I think it is also important to review what it meant to be the king of the jews. First you had to be a son in the line of David, This lineage is well established in the begining of the gospel of Matthew. Second he had to be a priest and a prophet, I think that those roles are well established as well. And finally the king would serve as a servant ruler of the people of israel. The scripture says that the role of the king was to meditate on the word of god both night and day. This was not only for the wisdom that it would bring to his rule but also that he could serve as judge and arbiter of the law. So the king needed to be well grounded in the teaching of god because he was the only person in the whole kingdom that could pardon a criminal. This was called his “royal perogative.” This is also what Jesus came to this world to do as well…, He would wield his “royal perogative” and free the whole world from the just punishment due to sin. But Jesus would do it unlike any other king that had ever lived, he would do it by exchanging his life, for us sinners. With His life He would pay the dept of sin, and grant pardon to the sinner, but His “royal perogative” would cost Him His life. So in His moment of greatest pain and suffering He achieves His moment of greatest triumph.

So coming back to our friends Gestas and Dismas. Remember that they both asked Jesus to save them… “save yourself and us.” But in the end only Dismas would prove that his life was not a total waste…, because at the very end, he recognized the Lord before he died. He recognized Jesus, and he recognized his own sin and he repented of it. He did not say take me with you, and save me from the punishment that I rightly deserve. He instead simply asked that Jesus remember him when He entered into His kingdom. This is why this story is so compelling, because it speaks directly to the reason why Jesus came to us to offer His gift of salvation of all of the souls of the world, and how we can recieve that gift even though we do not rightly deserve it.

Both Dismas and Gestas, were completely lost to serious grave sin, and they lived their entire lives that way, but in the last moments of their lives, Jesus would offer them both salvation. But only one would humbly accept it, the other not, and as a result each of their eternal fates are thus sealed in their decisions forever.

Both of these men lived scandalous and despicable lives. And both of these men justly deserve the punishment of death that had been levied on them and even eternal damnation. But one of the two, St. Dismas, saw the God-man Jesus for who He truly was, and through a miraculous moment of divine grace understood the offer of salvation that was being presented to him on that cross, and so he begged God to simply remember him when He entered into His Kingdom. This simple act of faith and contrition, was returned by God himself saying to him “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” And as a result, This simple first saint received an overwhelming outpouring of the Father’s love, and grace, and a forgiveness. A love that he did not deserve, but a love that would save his soul for all eternity.

This humble act of repentance and recognition of sin should be a reminder to us all about the infinite mercy of Jesus, and a that Jesus is waiting to tell us the same thing. If we would simply confess our sins, and return to him in the eucharist we too can receive the reward that was offered to the good theif and rejoice in the mercy that God wants to pour out onto you as well.

St. Dismas is a model of contrition, he shows the way that we too should approach Jesus at the end of our lives. So today, I humbly urge you to confess your sins, ask for Jesus' forgiveness, and that He will remember you too, at the time of your judgement. And when you sin again, start over at square one. 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.

The choice is clear and could not be more simple, but the choice is completely yours, what will you choose? Your eternity depends on it, choose wisely!