Thought of the Day April 7, 2020 You will be with me
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
The first fruit of Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness came forth in
the words of one of the criminals crucified with Jesus. Recognizing and
admitting his own sinfulness, he expressed a plea of repentance. He publicly
testified to Jesus’ innocence and professed his faith in Jesus’ identity as
Lord, without understanding the full meaning.
He believed there was something more than this life, even for
one who had done wrong. Rather than die with anger and hate on his heart, like
his companion in crime, he chose to ask for mercy and forgiveness, with the
hope of being with Jesus after death. What the good thief realized was that God
came to meet him in his deepest suffering and offered him, not only freedom
through repentance, but the promise of
paradise.
The grace to repent and believe comes in strange ways and
difficult times. How often have we not been attentive or receptive to that
grace in our own lives? Spend some time reflecting on the words of both persons. Make the words of the thief
your own and hear Jesus’ response to you in your heart.
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