How could the “good thief” live a sinful life and still go straight to Heaven?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim answers a powerful question about St. Dismas, the thief crucified next to Jesus, and what his story reveals about repentance, mercy, and salvation.
Was there no “purgatory” for him? Was it really that simple?
The answer points to something deeper. Salvation isn’t about how long you’ve been good. It’s about the depth of your love and surrender to Jesus. In his final moments, the good thief makes a complete, humble, and public turn toward Christ, and Jesus responds with mercy. This episode is a powerful reminder that Jesus isn’t limited like we are, and His mercy is bigger than we can imagine. It’s never too late to turn to Him. But it’s not about fear, it’s about love.
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Didn’t Jesus say, “Call no man father”? So why do Catholics still call priests “Father”?
In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains what Jesus really meant in Matthew 23:9. Looking at Scripture, St. Paul, the early Church, and the meaning of spiritual fatherhood, he shows that Jesus wasn’t banning the word “father”. He was warning against ego, pride, and religious titles used for self-importance.
A priest is called “Father” not because he replaces God the Father, but because he shares in and points back to the fatherhood of God. For priests, the title is meant to be humbling: a reminder to love, serve, sacrifice, and become better spiritual fathers.
There is only one true Father. Priests simply share in His fatherhood, and point us back to Him.
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If you’ve ever had questions about these powerful moments in the Gospel, this episode brings clarity, depth, and wonder to the story of salvation.