Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck
A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 23:35-43
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today’s Gospel from Luke 23 draws us into one of the most astounding moments in Scripture: the crucifixion, where Jesus, suffering and mocked, reveals the true nature of His kingship. Let me share a story from a Catholic prison chaplain, Father Mark, whose ministry on death row embodies the transforming hope of this Gospel.
Father Mark visited men living with regret, some convinced they were beyond God’s forgiveness. One man, John, had always refused to see a priest, insisting he was too far gone. As his last days approached, John finally asked to talk, not about his crime, but about the smallest hope that God might still care for him. During their meeting, John quietly asked, “Could God really remember me?”
Father Mark turned to today’s Gospel and told him of the Good Thief—Dismas—who, nailed beside Jesus and condemned, found the courage to say, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus, in turn, offered pure grace: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” On the day of John’s execution, Father Mark repeated those words as he gave the last rites. In that moment, the Kingdom of God shone through, a kingdom of unearned hope and mercy, even behind prison walls.
A Gospel of Hope: The Promise of Paradise and the Mercy of the King
This is above all a Gospel of hope—hope with the power to reach into the darkest places of our world and our hearts. When Jesus promises the Good Thief, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” He is declaring that no one is ever beyond hope. This hope isn’t just for a distant afterlife, but for today, wherever we find ourselves. Jesus assures us that, in every moment we turn to Him, His mercy is real and His Kingdom is always near.
This Gospel scene is not just ancient history. Luke reveals a King who reigns from the cross, not a throne; crowned with thorns, not gold. Jesus is mocked as “King of the Jews,” but beneath the sarcasm lies the deepest truth. What kind of King is He? One who forgives in the moment of His agony, who opens the gates of Paradise to the least likely—a criminal, written off by the world, but never by God.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The criminal is, often, the only type of strong man left, when a society has grown old and stiff… Christ, though blameless, came to be numbered with the transgressors, to show that salvation begins where respectability ends.” Christ’s Kingdom is not earned by respectability, status, or good deeds, but is open to anyone who dares to ask for mercy. Whether the good thief or John on death row, there is a place in the Kingdom for every contrite heart.
Living the Gospel: Mercy, Forgiveness, and Honest Hearts
So how do we live this Gospel every day? It asks us to stretch beyond our comfort. First, ask the Holy Spirit for help to forgive—especially those who have hurt you deeply. The temptation is to harden our hearts or withdraw, but Jesus calls us to mercy, just as He offered it to the thief beside Him. Forgiveness might mean reaching out, sending a message, or simply praying for another’s healing—even when your own heart still aches.
We must also have the honesty to admit our own faults, like the Good Thief, rather than hide behind excuses or blame. It takes humility and courage—qualities the Holy Spirit supplies—to say, “I was wrong,” whether to a friend, family, or in confession. Such honesty brings true freedom.
The Gospel pushes us to notice and include those society ignores or judges: classmates left out, awkward coworkers, or those burdened by gossip. Welcoming them, even in small ways, is a Christlike act that brings the Kingdom closer. Kindness, a shared meal, a greeting—these simple gestures say, “Today you will be with me.”
When someone is suffering—struggling with illness, addiction, or grief—the Gospel calls us to be present. Often, the most healing thing is simply to listen and let them know God’s love has not left them alone.
And finally, trust in God’s mercy for yourself. The Good Thief teaches us that, no matter what weighs us down, we can always turn to Jesus with the words, “Remember me.” He answers us with hope, meeting us in our mess and offering us Paradise.
Let us thank and praise our Heavenly Father for sending us Jesus, our merciful King, who draws each of us into the Kingdom, day by day. In Jesus, we discover the hope that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love, and that—like the Good Thief—we too are invited to be with Him in Paradise. May we have the courage to ask for forgiveness and the grace to share mercy with others, living always in the light of God’s love. To God be all glory, now and forever.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
About Our Guest Blogger
Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.
I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.
My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.
