Palm Sunday 2025 – Forgiveness

There are many things which are the same in the Passion narrative that we can read, that we can find in Matthew, Mark and Luke, but there are also unique differences. Two things which can only be found in the version of St. Luke, we can summarize them in one word, forgiveness, that is unique to St. Luke. So the first one that is different from St. Luke to the other Gospel, only in St. Luke do we read the dialogue between Jesus and the two criminals who are crucified on the right side and on the left side of Jesus.

But it is not clear what their crimes were. What is clear in St. Luke, they are bad people. And they are being punished for their crimes.

The first one, the first criminal speaks to Jesus in a very aggressive and angry way. He is full of anger and bitterness. He is full of arrogance and pride and self-centeredness. He challenged Jesus, are you not the Savior? Save yourself and save us. If I could put it in another way. So, what now? I thought you are the Son of God. Do something for us. Use your power. Either you are the Son of God or you are fake. He is just full of pride and arrogance. Full of hatred and resentment.

Then we have the good thief. His name is Dismas or Dimas. His first reaction is one of repentance, humility, and openness. His first words were words of admission of his sins. If I would put it in another way, he was saying, I am not a good person. I have done some bad things in my life. Therefore, I deserve this kind of punishment. I can only blame myself. I have no other, I have no one to blame for my choices but myself. You see, how difficult is this today.

Images courtesy of Bro. Jaime