Then the other criminal hanging there 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.” (Lk 22:14-23:56)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041022.cfm
There is a marvelous film called, Of Gods and Men (2010) which tells the story of the Trappist monks who were martyred in Algeria in 1996. The abbot writes a thank-you letter to his family and in it he addresses the terrorist who would murder him: “Yes, to you as well I address this thank you. May we meet again, happy thieves in Paradise, if it pleases God the Father of us both. Amen. Insha'Allah.”
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, April 10
