Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/744

 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.

Near the  Cross  stood  Mary,  the  Mother  of  Jesus,  and  John, His beloved  disciple,  and  Mary  Magdalen. Looking upon  them with tender  affection,  He  said  to  His  Mother:  “Woman,  behold thy son !"  Then,  addressing  John,  He  said:  Behold  thy  Mother?' (John.)