Thyself and us!”[1] But the other rebuked him, saying: “Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation. We, indeed, justly[2], for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man hath done no evil.” Then he said to Jesus: “Lord[3], remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom!” Jesus replied: “Amen, I say to thee, this day [4] thou shalt be with Me in paradise" [5] (Luke).
COMMENTARY.
The Conversion of the penitent thief was a miracle of grace won by the merits of Jesus Christ. When this great criminal saw the patience and gentleness with which Jesus suffered, and how He repaid injuries with love, and when he heard Him address God as His Father, he opened his heart to grace and believed that Jesus was the Messias and the Son of God. With this faith there was awakened in him hope and confidence in the power of the Redeemer to pardon him, and he prayed Him to have mercy on him. He had committed very great crimes in his past life, and had done no penance for them; but now, though he was on the point of dying, he hoped to receive pardon and eternal life from Jesus. Love for Jesus also entered his heart, and impelled him to do what he could to protect Him from the insults of the other thief, whom he upbraided for his blasphemies. From a robber and murderer he suddenly became zealous for God’s glory and the welfare of his companion’s soul. From his love for Jesus proceeded a deep contritions which he made known by a sincere confession of his great guilt, whereby he had deserved the punishment of death. He accepted his punishment and suffering willingly and resignedly, in satisfaction for his sins. He did not ask to be delivered from his temporal punishment, but acknowledged that his sufferings were no more than his due. His
- ↑ Save Thyself and us. This wretched man only thought of saving the life of his body, caring nothing for judgment or eternity. As Jesus did not use His power to save either Himself or His companions, this robber turned against Him, and joined in the blasphemies of the bystanders.
- ↑ Justly. “Companions in misery ought to comfort each other, not to torment each other. Add to this that you and I have deserved our punishment, but this Man is innocent. Do you not fear to scoff, in the very face of death, at this innocent Man?”
- ↑ Lord. The Jews addressed God alone by this Name. This thief (at the right hand of Jesus) believed therefore that our Blessed Lord was God, and would reign in His kingdom. His faithful and contrite prayer was heard, as the next words of Jesus show.
- ↑ This day. Therefore, immediately after his death.
- ↑ In paradise. With the souls of the just in Limbo.
