His name was Dismas. For way too long he had to bear the insults and the jokes hurled at a man he didn’t think deserved it. These people’s emotions were out of control! But not the man to his right; he was in perfect control. Gestas was even insulting this man. What a fool! Other than the occasional grunt of discomfort from the enormous pain this man was enduring, the man to his right said nothing. He almost looked upon these people with pity. Not revengeful pity; but a deep loving remorse.
How could a man under such intense suffering seem to love these enemies of His? Finally, Dismas had had enough. “Have you no fear of God,” he asked Gestas, “for you are subject to the same condemnation? This man has done nothing criminal." Then, he said to the man to his right, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise," said Jesus to a perfect confession from a contrite penitent.
To repent is to “feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's sin.” But, one must first recognize sin. Recognizing sin means understanding that we don’t get to define right or wrong for ourselves. Right and wrong are defined for us by God. It has been handed to us through the Ten Commandments.
Next, we must recognize the consequences of sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s pretty clear.
Lastly, we must recognize the Sacrament of Penance is a sacrament instituted by Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The very first command Jesus gives to the Apostles the first time He appears to them after his resurrection is “(Jesus) said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’“ That’s pretty clear too.
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