The Throne of the Cross
“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
We begin our second year of this Great Novena by turning to the new annual theme: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” These are the words spoken to Dismas, the “good thief” who was crucified along with Jesus. In Luke 23, the two criminals with Jesus have opposite reactions to the sight of Jesus between them. One of them, traditionally called Gesmas, taunts Jesus in pride and rebellion, daring him to prove his power by pulling all of them off the cross. Dismas, however, responds with humility by accepting that he is a criminal, that he deserves punishment, and that the man crucified beside him is an innocent man who is unjustly condemned.
There are many, many reflections on this dynamic offered by saints and teachers of the faith throughout the centuries. St. Augustine’s warning about the opposite extremes of despair and presumption is particularly pithy and insightful. For our purposes, however, it’s worth focusing on the way Dismas recognizes Jesus’ kingship. He says, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” It’s a strange thing to say to a man dying from one of the most cruel methods of execution ever invented. It’s a strange thing to say to a man who is rejected by the people he’s supposed to be king of. The sign over his head - “The King of the Jews” - is certainly intended to be ironic and a mockery. Yet this crucified man looks at the naked, tortured, rejected man beside him and actually believes he is a king. So strongly does he believe that he makes a request of the man’s royal authority. Truly, this is not an act based on pure reason. This is not a decision born of merely pragmatic and thoughtful deliberation. It is an act of something beyond reason, a perception of an invisible reality and a decision to trust that deeper perception. This is the gift of faith, which is not irrational, but does indeed go far beyond what reason could achieve.
And it seems that Dismas’ faith is rewarded, for Jesus immediately promises to not only honor his request, but to exceed it: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” There are a lot of interesting theological implications with that statement: if Jesus stays dead for 3 days, how can he be in paradise today? Does paradise mean heaven? Or is it a reference to something else? How exactly is Dismas “with” Jesus in paradise if Jesus is descending into Hell first? Indeed, those are questions worth pondering and ones that theologians and saints have reflected on. They are questions worth investigating at another time. At this point, however, the thing that Jesus’ proclamation says to us is this: Jesus is already a king.
Dismas’ request is phrased as a future thing. It seems that he expects Jesus to become king after death, which is why he says “when you come” in his request. Jesus however acts with royal authority while still on the cross. This man issues a royal decree from the cross. It’s almost absurd in comparison to how kingly decrees are normally issued: by a dignified man clothed in purple, crowned in gold, and seated upon his throne. Clothed in the purple of his own blood and crowned with thorns, Jesus’ royal attitude says to us and to all of humanity that His throne is the Cross.
The Throne of the Cross is the place of authority from which Jesus wipes away sin and bestows mercy. In John 12:31-32 Jesus says, “Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” The Throne of the Cross is the place of authority from which Jesus can issue the “judgment on this world.” The Throne of the Cross is the position of being “lifted up” that allows Jesus to drive out the “ruler of this world” - Satan - and draw everyone to himself.
Do you see why we celebrate the cross itself so fervently? Why we have an entire feast dedicated to the cross, a feast so important that it overrides even an ordinary Sunday? September 14th is the feast of the Exaltation (or Triumph) of the Cross, which commemorates when St. Helena discovered the true cross in Jerusalem and also commemorates the building of the Basilica over the site of the Crucifixion.
Yes, the cross is basically a piece of wood that was used to kill Jesus. So, why should we honor it? For the same reason people honor the flag of their country, treasure the heirloom furniture in their home, or bestow special titles on the desk at which their president sits. These things, like the cross, become instruments of something greater and so carry a symbolic power. The Cross, because it was soaked in the very blood of the God-Man Jesus Christ, is even more than a symbol. It is a relic. It is the sacred throne of Jesus Christ the King. This is why we’ve invited everyone who can to participate in a vigil of prayer before a relic of the cross. This is why we’ve named this feast day as the principal feast of our Great Novena. We are preparing to celebrate 2000 years of salvation and that salvation was granted to us by the king from his throne upon the cross.
Renew your devotion to this cross by observing the 3 days of fasting. Renew your devotion to this cross by celebrating the feast day with attendance at Holy Mass and rejoicing with loved ones. And give thanks to God for that throne of the Cross. As faithful subjects of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Jesus Christ, make your way to the foot of that throne to do honor to him who sits upon it. Above all else, do as the good thief Dismas did and humbly appeal to the power vested in that throne by the one who hung upon it. Admit to the reality of your sinfulness, embrace the trials of your life as discipline from a loving God, and plead for the mercy of the king upon his throne. Exalt the cross in your life, let it triumph in your life by repentance, by penance, by prayer, and by humbly worshipping him who promises to bring you with him to paradise if you but ask him to.
