Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/743

 Thyself and  us!”  But  the  other  rebuked  him,  saying:  “Neither dost thou  fear  God,  seeing  thou  art  under  the  same  condemnation. We, indeed,  justly,  for  we  receive  the  due  reward  of  our  deeds; but this  Man  hath  done  no  evil.”  Then  he  said  to  Jesus: “Lord, remember  me  when  Thou  shalt  come  into  Thy  kingdom!” Jesus  replied:  “Amen,  I say  to  thee, this  day thou shalt be  with  Me  in  paradise"  (Luke).

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