Passion Meditation:

After the kiss of Judas,

After the betrayal of Peter,

After the accusations of the priests and scribes,

After the conspiracy of Pilate and Herod,

After the taunts of the crowd,

After the wailing of the women,

And after the mocking of the soldiers,

What I notice is:

The difference between the two criminals.

Jesus ultimately hangs between our two responses.

Either we want to manipulate the holy one to answer our pain, saying,

“Jesus, save yourself and us,”

Or we prayerfully turn to our Jesus, saying,

“Please, oh please, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

It’s obvious from the story that we too will miss the mark.

We will find a way to betray, or deny, or accuse, or taunt, or wail at, or mock our Savior.

And still, Jesus loves us.

Though he cried hot tears in the garden and questioned the love of his Father,

Jesus makes peace with our failings.

He knows our limitations and loves us anyway.

Now, we hang beside him accused and convicted, condemned for our sin.

Which criminal will we resemble?

Will we be the criminal who, to the end, is convinced of his own decency, always deserving the break, expecting Jesus to come to his aid right now and in the right way?

Jesus – save me, but nobody else.

Or will we be the criminal who knows his need for mercy, who is humbled before God, and begs of Jesus, not for some personal favor, but to be remembered in the heart of God?

Jesus – remember me, remember us, heal us and make us whole.

To the one who asked for mercy, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Then the sky grows dark, and the curtain of the temple splits in two.

And Jesus breathes his last.