Today You Shall be with Me in Paradise

11-23-2025Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we behold three men crucified on Mount Calvary: the redeemer of humanity and two evildoers. Many others were condemned, but only these two were called to die next to Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." And He told one of them, "Today, you shall be with me in paradise."

Saint Dismas is the only person canonized by Christ during his lifetime. And the other man? We don't even know his name. Christ didn't even speak one word to him. Why? Very different attitudes. Dismas acknowledges his sin and repents in his heart. This is the first step toward conversion: admitting one's sins. As we finish the liturgical year on this feast of Christ the King, I invite you to meditate with me on the words Christ spoke from the cross: "Today, you shall be with me in paradise."

TODAY: How envious we might be of this blessed thief! Yes, he was a criminal, but he became a thief that robbed Heaven for himself. We should learn from Dismas' shrewdness so we can also make it to Heaven. How wonderful the arrival of that "day!"

YOU SHALL BE: The future seems so far away at times. Although the faithful are assured of final victory, it's hard for us to realize that it will take a while to arrive. We don't realize that for God there is an eternal present. The "you shall be" becomes the "today" of every day. Dismas understood that his suffering in this life, that his fidelity in that final moment was already like being in Heaven.

That is what Christ wants us to understand as well. Starting right now we can already enjoy our reward, in the eternal present, which is another way of saying constantly, because we are living in God. So that "you shall be" no longer sounds as far away.

WITH ME: The most beautiful part of the phrase, the one that gives meaning to our entire life. This is the one that opened Dismas' eyes. By being with Christ there, his joy had already begun because Heaven was present there. Even the most painful cross can be carried with peace and tranquility when we are with Christ.

These words of Christ to the good thief have given hope to people throughout the two thousand years of Christian history and will keep doing so until the end of time. Death is the door to Paradise, and "being with him" is the goal of our whole Christian life. May we make him the Lord of our hearts, and fight to establish his Kingdom in this world, so he can rule us with love, justice and peace.

All the best in Christ,

Father Wilson

Hoy Estarás Conmigo en el Paraíso

Queridos hermanos en Cristo:

Hoy contemplamos a tres hombres crucificados en el Monte Calvario: el redentor de la humanidad y dos malhechores. Muchos otros fueron condenados, pero solo estos dos fueron llamados a morir junto a Jesús, «el Cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo». Y a uno de ellos le dijo: «Hoy estarás conmigo en el paraíso».

San Dimas es la única persona canonizada por Cristo en vida. ¿Y el otro hombre? Ni siquiera sabemos su nombre. Cristo no le dirigió ni una palabra. ¿Por qué? Actitudes muy diferentes. Dimas reconoce su pecado y se arrepiente de corazón. Este es el primer paso hacia la conversión: admitir los pecados. Al concluir el año litúrgico en esta fiesta de Cristo Rey, los invito a meditar conmigo en las palabras que Cristo pronunció desde la cruz: «Hoy estarás conmigo en el paraíso».

HOY: ¡Cuanta envidia podríamos tener de este bendito ladron! Sí, fue un criminal, pero se convirtió en un ladrón que se robó el Cielo. Debemos aprender de la astucia de Dimas para que nosotros tambien podamos llegar al Cielo. ¡Que maravillosa la llegada de ese día!

SERÁS: A veces el futuro parece tan lejano. Aunque los fieles tienen la certeza de la victoria final, nos cuesta comprender que tardara en llegar. No nos damos cuenta de que para Dios existe un presente eterno. El «serás» se convierte en el «hoy» de cada día. Dimas comprendió que su sufrimiento en esta vida, su fidelidad en ese último momento, era ya como estar en el Cielo.

Estas palabras de Cristo al buen ladron han dado esperanza a la gente a lo largo de los dos mil años de historia cristiana y seguiran haciendolo hasta el fin de los tiempos. La muerte es la puerta al Paraíso, y «estar con Él » es la meta de toda nuestra vida cristia- na. Hagamoslo el Senor de nuestros corazones y luchemos por establecer su Reino en este mundo, para que nos gobierne con amor, justicia y paz.

Que Dios les bendiga,

Padre Wilson