Lent Day 39: Saturday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Good Thief.

The Good Thief.

Listen to this meditation audio by using the player above.

Read St. Luke xxiii.  39-43.

[39] And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation?

[41] And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil. [42] And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

1.  Among those who mocked and derided Jesus were the two thieves crucified with Him.  But very soon His unspeakable gentleness and meekness touched the heart of one of the two.  First he ceased his words of insult, then he boldly reproved his companion and bore testimony to the innocence of Jesus, and to His authority as King and Lord.  What a divine power there is in weakness!  The sight of the uncomplaining patience of Christ convinced this robber that He was King of all the earth, and that He Who now was dying on the cross would soon reign forever and ever. “Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom!”

2.  Remember me!  This was his simple prayer.  But we know that it was enough.  If Christ remembers us, all will be well.  What we have to dread is lest He forget us by reason of our having forgotten Him.  This prayer should often be on our lips: “O Lord, remember me!  In the hour of temptation, remember me!  When sorrow bears hard on me, remember me!  In sickness and in my last agony, O Lord, remember me!”

3.  Our Lord answers this prayer of the good thief with divine generosity.  All his sins are forgiven him; and as soon as his agony is over, he is to be received into the company of the blest and to be with Christ in paradise.  What a rich reward for his confession of Christ!  What a glorious answer to his prayer that Christ will remember him!

 


This article, Lent Day 39: Saturday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent — The Good Thief. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/devotional/the-catholic-daily/lent-meditations-preface-information/lent-day-39-saturday-fifth-sunday-lent-good-thief/
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