Can you stand with Christ if it means going against the crowd? Deacon Tommy O’Donnell, SJ, reflects on how the criminal in today’s gospel goes against the crowd and puts his faith in Christ. Based on the readings for Palm Sunday.
Remain with the criminal, not the crowd.
Hi, I’m Deacon Tommy O’Donnell, and this is my one-minute homily.
“With loud shouts, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion. And their voices prevailed.” This is the collective voice of the crowd in today’s Gospel. But the criminal, the person we’d assume to be most in need of forgiveness, is the one who acts against the crowd. His cross is positioned right next to Christ’s. And for this, Jesus tells him, “You will be with me in Paradise.”
We all face crosses in life. And we, too, are called to position them next to Christ.
Here’s an example. If you’re anything like me, you can relate to the cross of low self-confidence. But, when we position that particular cross next to Christ, SELF-confidence becomes CHRIST-confidence. And in that, we should have all the confidence in the world! Then we can say with the criminal today, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”