THE GOOD THIEF

Dear Lord,

You were hung on the Cross
criminals hanging on either side of You.

One of them, angry and unrepentant, cursed you.

The other, we are told, the Good Thief,
had apparently heard of You
and understood Your message of Love.

He cried out in repentance and belief,
begging to go with You
to Your heavenly paradise,
saying:

"Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom."

You replied to him, "Amen, I say to you,
this day you will be with me in Paradise."

What wonderful words! What a gift of assurance!

You, Repentant Thief, Dismas,
or Rach or Zoatham, all of which
you have been called,
we know from the words of Jesus, Himself,
that you are, now, with Him in heaven!

We know that your dying prayer
from your cross of shame was answered.

Please, now, believing Dismas, pray for me
to that same Jesus Crucified, that I may be saved
as you have been!

Lord, let me believe with the faith of this man who died with You that terrible black Friday,
and who in the very agony of his death hour,
and in spite of laughing, mocking curses
from the vicious crowd,
proclaimed his total faith in You.

Please give me the insight and the understanding and the strong faith of this poor criminal,
who is now a saint with you in heaven.

Give me his courage never to be afraid
to proclaim my faith in You as Dismas did,
My Lord and My Saving God.

All this I pray to You, my dear Jesus.

Amen

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(c) 2012 Donn B. Murphy
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