GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES 2

THE DISMAS AND THE GESTAS IN ME

All four Gospels tell us that Christ was crucified between two thieves. In St. Luke's Gospel, we get a more complete story. As the three hung dying on their crosses "the bad thief" mocks Jesus saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" At which point "the "good thief" speaks up. "Do you not fear God?" he asks his companion. "We are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." Then addressing Christ he says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingly power." "Truly I say to you," Jesus replies, "today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)

About the time 600CE, a collection of sacred fables called The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior tells how the Holy Family, as they fled into Egypt to escape King Herod, discovered that they would have to pass through country infested with robbers. Mary and Joseph decided to travel by night, hoping they would avoid being seen. But two thieves - Dismas and Gestas - stopped them on the road. Gestas would have robbed Mary and Joseph, but something moved Dismas to stop him. "I beg you," Dismas says, "let these people go free." Mary, touched by Dismas' compassion, tells him, "The Lord God will sustain you with His right hand and will grant you remission of your sins."

It's a wonderful story, but no one would argue that it actually happened.

Although Dismas was by birth a Gentile and the eldest son of a rich Jewish merchant and could have a pleasant and comfortable life, he was corrupted by his cousin Gestas and became an outlaw.

The accusation which had been proved against them (Dismas and Gestas) was that of having assassinated a Jewish woman who, with her children, was travelling from Jerusalem to Joppa. On being arrested, he confessed everything. They were imprisoned for a long time before being brought to trial.

Gestas is derived from the Greek Gesta, that means to complain or to moan. Dismas was adapted from a Greek word meaning "sunset" or "death."

Interestingly, St. Dismas is the patron saint of thieves and celebrated on March 25th on the Roman Calendar, which also happens to be the date for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be continued...

*NB: These short teachings come your way this and every Friday of the Season of Lent.*

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