They called him the good thief; and someone, somewhere at some time gave him the name Dismas. It is a dismal sounding name. Perhaps, I thought, it is so because of the sadness of his life? I only recently learned Dismas is a name given to him in the gospel of Nicodemus, an apocryphal writing, and the name means sunset or death. We do not know his age or his village. We do not know his crime, although over the centuries he has been called the good thief.

My father always said that I did more and better work than two grown men could do. It wasn't difficult for me because I suppose that I was a bit of a perfectionist. I liked things done quickly, efficiently, and tidily and, as we weren't well off, I was very useful about our little holding. But I found later that, riches don't make a person good or happy, and on the whole my family was both. We were faithful to the law and we all cared about each other and that was enough.

In catechism lessons many years ago, we learned that God created us in His own image and likeness, to know love and serve Him on this earth and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. This tells us that we are pilgrims on a spiritual journey. St Ignatius encourages us “to put on the mind of a pilgrim and set out on a journey.

The Church offers us a variety of moods during the liturgical year as we re-live the life of Jesus. On this first Sunday of Lent we find ourselves at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He has just been baptized and had his identity confirmed 'You are my beloved Son . . .'

CHRISTIANS make much of Holy Week. The crucifix is a symbol of sorrow as Holy Week recalls the last days of the life of Our Lord. It is a week of high drama. It begins on a Sunday with a great demonstration of popularity for Christ. People sing, carry palm branches and hail Christ as leader. But by Friday what a change!