conversion therefore was very real and perfect, and our Lord remitted all his sins, and promised him the immediate possession of paradise. The fervour of his penance shortened its duration.
The Divinity of our Lord. This wonderful conversion of the thief crucified at His right hand is a further proof of our Lord’s Divinity. His enemies purposely crucified Him between two thieves, so as to increase the ignominy of His Death; but their intentional insult turned to His honour and glory, and Jesus, while still hanging on the Cross, drew the hearts of men to acknowledge Him as their Lord and King. “This thief”, says St. Chrysostom, “saw our Saviour in torments, but prayed to Him as if He were in glory. He saw Him stretched on His Cross, and prayed to Him as if He were seated on His throne in heaven. He saw One condemned, and called Him Lord. He saw One crucified, and confessed Him to be a King. O wonderful conversion!” All in a moment Jesus turned the sinner, whose crimes had merited death, into a Saint! This conversion shows, indeed, the might of the divine grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! And how, moreover, could He have promised paradise to the penitent thief, had He not been God?
To convert sinners is a spiritual work of mercy.
He who corresponds with grace will be saved, while he who resists grace will be lost. This important truth is illustrated by the conduct of the two thieves, in the same way that it is illustrated by the conversion of St. Peter and the despair of Judas. The thief on the left hand received quite as much grace as did the other, for Jesus prayed for both, and shed His Precious Blood for both. He saw the patience and love of Jesus as well as the other, but he resisted grace, hardened his heart, and thus died in his sins, and was eternally lost. On the contrary, the thief on the right hand corresponded with grace and was thereby saved. He left the cross for paradise, whereas the other left it for hell.
3. The Third Word.
Near the Cross stood Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and John, His beloved disciple[1], and Mary Magdalen. Looking upon them with tender affection, He said to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son !"[2] Then, addressing John, He said: Behold thy Mother?'[3] (John.)
- ↑ Beloved disciple. He was especially dear to Jesus on account of his virginal purity.
- ↑ Thy son. This man, John, shall from henceforth be to you as a son; for I am going to leave you, and depart from this world.
- ↑ Thy Mother. Mary will be to you a mother, and, as such, you shall honour and cherish her. John fulfilled with joy this last testament of his beloved Master, and “from that hour took her to his own”.
