DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
“Mocking Jesus”: The Jewish leaders, Roman soldiers and one of the criminals crucified with Jesus: all mocked Him; to use His Divine Power to save Himself. However, the other criminal proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah; and Jesus rewarded Him with Paradise. Ponder on, “Do we witness to Jesus as our Saviour with humility; or do we ‘mock’ Him with our pride?”
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Luke 23:35-40a,42-43
The people stayed there before the cross watching Jesus. As for the leaders, they jeered at him with the words, ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, coming up to him, offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews’.
One of the criminals hanging there abused him: ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He answered him, ‘In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’