ELEVENTH STATION
Jesus Promises the Kingdom to the Good Thief
V.Adoramus
te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R.Quia
per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
Because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
From the Gospel according to Lk 23,39-43
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!". But the other rebuked him, saying: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong". And he said: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom". And he said to him: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise".
MEDITATION
"Today you will be with me in paradise" (Lk 23,43): this is the most consoling word that Jesus speaks in the Gospel. Still more encouraging is the fact that he says it to a criminal. The good thief had certainly committed murder, perhaps more than once, and knew nothing of Jesus, except what he had heard the crowd shouting. But now he hears the words of forgiveness that the Nazarene speaks to those who are crucifying him and he understands, as in a flash, of which Kingdom this "prophet" has spoken. He immediately defends him from the sneers of the other criminal and immediately pleads for salvation. A sense of solidarity and a cry for help are enough to save him. That thief represents us all. His brief adventure teaches us that the Kingdom preached by Jesus is not hard to reach for those who call on him.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
you promised paradise
to the criminal who spoke to you from the cross
next to yours: remember us too,
now that you are in your Kingdom.
Grant that your consoling promise
of eternal life and eternal love
may reach every woman and every man
who faces the moment of death.
To you, Jesus,
the Condemned One with the welcoming face,
to you be everlasting praise and thanksgiving,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
today and for ages unending.
R.Amen.
All:
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.
Sancta
mater, istud agas,
Crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
Holy
Mother, pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Saviour crucified.