In Luke's account of the crucifixion, the two criminals crucified to the left and right of Jesus take very different approaches to Jesus on the cross. In one, we see mockery (Luke 23:39); in the other, we see a strong defense of Jesus and this criminal's famous last words: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42)." It is the words of this second repentant criminal that I want to address, as an Ash Wednesday reflection.

At the same, it is not on the previously-mentioned famous last words of the second criminal that I want to address. Rather, I want to address this repentant criminal's prior words while hanging on his own cross. I am sure some will say that I have missed the point of Luke's account by addressing the criminal as opposed to Jesus' response to this criminal: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)." Others will say that I have missed the point by addressing what the criminal has to say about his own condition, rather than by addressing his final plea to Jesus. I assure you that the point regarding the power and the authority Jesus Christ has to save us with His grace and mercy even in the last moment of our lives--if we but turn to Him--has not been lost on me. (Before moving on and without comment, I will only add that while it is nice to know we can cry out to Christ at the last moment, Jesus makes it quite clear that we ought to be careful with this approach: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21).")

But earlier in the same passage, we see what seems to me to be one of the major challenges in this account of the crucifixion. We see the repentant criminal not only recognize Jesus as a sinless man (though I will be the first to say that this, in and of itself, is a lot), but also his partial (if not total) realization of his own sinful state. As this repentant criminal says to the unrepentant criminal: "We have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal (Luke 23:41)." Herein lies the challenge.

I dare say this non-Christian criminal--sentenced to death--had a better understanding of his sinful state than many of us do. In truth, many of us dare not examine ourselves and who we truly are for fear of what we will find ever-present within: sin, anger, fear, pain, lust, unforgiveness, envy, and the like. Unlike many of us, the repentant criminal seems to take on the attitude present in the words of the Psalmist: "For I know my offense; my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:5)." The truth is, most of us don't want our sins before us. We'd rather ignore them, and simply sweep them under the bed.

Yet this attitude of looking at ourselves as offenders of God, as criminals worthy of a just sentence is one lesson Luke intends to portray. Yes, Jesus can save us from the just punishment we each deserve; He can save us from the wrath of God. But perhaps to truly be able to call out to Him and be heard (again, Matthew 7:21), we must begin to look at ourselves as we truly are. And perhaps, like the repentant criminal, we need to put ourselves--or minimally those personal traits which are offensive and criminal in the eyes of the Lord--on our own cross.

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. --John 12:24-25

I pray that this Lent we can die in ways the Lord would have us die.

A Call for Introspection
He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40)."

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I want to suggest that Lent is an opportunity to do something we might not otherwise do. Many people give up chocolate or caffeine for Lent and admittedly (as a Mountain Dew addict) this can be quite a sacrifice. However, I want to suggest that rather than merely giving up something material for Lent, that it may be possible to do something a bit more radical. That is, I want to recommend the idea of possibly making an attempt at some sort of (small or large) personal transformation.

Lent, among other things, is about contemplating what Jesus Christ did and continues to do to save sinners. It is also an opportunity for introspection. Not to be too cliche, but God helps those who help themselves. Ought we not take the opportunity of Lent to look inside and find one thing we can give up that is keeping us from God (Matthew 9:13, Luke 15:7)? Or, ought we not take the opportunity to look inside and find some spark of Love within us that we can bring to others (Matthew 6:14, Matthew 5:44-47, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)?

I realize that the sort of introspection I'm calling for is tougher than simply giving up chocolate (or even Mountain Dew). So I decided to put something together that might help spark some ideas. Still, I hope that my call for personal introspection (in prayer, if possible) is not glossed over. I want to recommend looking again at the two greatest commandments for the introspection I'm calling for here (Matthew 22:37-40).

The Greatest Commandment
Again, the greatest commandment is: "You shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)." It ought to be simple to find one way to love the Lord more:

• through giving God back the time He gave us by praying or attending Mass
  
• through giving up something that keeps us from God or spending time with Him(at work, at home, or in our "free time")--easy examples: wasting time in front of the television, the computer, or magazines
• through becoming involved at one's parish
• through learning more about one's faith, via reading the Bible or another spiritual work
  

The Second Greatest Command is Like the First
Very related, is the second greatest commandment: "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39b)." In truth, this one can be looked at through two lenses: a)love of neighbor and b) love of self.

In many ways, loving one's neighbor is very much like loving God Himself:

Then the righteous will answer him and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?" And the king will say to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:37-40)."

Again, it ought to be simple to find one way to love one's neighbor more:

• through forgiving another whom we have not truly forgiven
• through helping another person in need: at a soup kitchen or a nursing home
• through recognizing Christ in a person others ignore
  
• through teaching or talking with another about Christ and His saving grace
• through truly loving a person we interact with daily rather than merely criticizing them
• through being loyal and faithful to a friend or family member
• through looking on others with love rather than lust
  
• through not giving up on another labeled "a lost cause"

Love of self is often much more difficult to think about, because it is often considered selfish. Yet the verse does not merely end with "Love your neighbor." To think about this sort of love, it must be realized that love of self is not a selfish love or it is not truly love (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love of self is accepting and understanding that each person--including oneself--is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). As beings created in the image and likeness of God, we ought to respect the bodies and souls that God gave us, for each of us is truly a temple:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Just as thinking about love of oneself is often difficult, finding a way to love oneself is often difficult as well. Yet there are still ways to love oneself:

• through deciding not to destroy God's temple through the misuse of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol
• through maintaining a healthy lifestyle in terms of food and exercise
• through dressing modestly so as not encourage others to sinfully look upon oneself as an object
• through not destroying God's temple through sin
  

Conclusion and What to Expect
I don't offer any simple answers here. Again, my hope is that this can give some food for thought and I pray that at least a few people will indeed consider what God is calling them to do for Lent that will be truly transforming.

I also don't offer any excuses for the fact I haven't written anything publicly in a while. Rather, I will say that I'm finally settled in Rome and classes just began yesterday for me at the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas). This means that I will be putting more things on TomReagan.com in the upcoming weeks (including a few things I've already written but not had a chance to get online).