[Editor’s NOTE: In Anno Domini 2024, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, celebrated on the 25th of March, takes place next week. In his BFP, however, Laache places Annunciation Day on the Fifth Sunday in Lent.]
160. Wednesday after Annunciation Day.
Lord, give us repentance,
and give us a portion in thy kingdom. Amen.
Luke 23, 39-43. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
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The penitent thief is the only person of whom the scripture relates that he was converted in his last hour. We infer that it is possible to be converted immediately before death; but it is an extremely rare occurrence. The greater number of these conversions are not genuine. We often observe that persons who have seemed to repent when they were sick and in distress, return to their former wickedness as soon as they regain their health. Let none of us reason in this wise: “I shall have time enough in which to sue for mercy before I die; and then I shall be saved.” With thoughts such as these in your heart you commit sin, that grace may the more abound; and if you continue thus from day to day, it is but too certain that you will not be able to turn to the Lord in the agony of your dying hour. — This thief on the cross also presents a remarkable example of sincere repentance. He recognizes his guilt, and confesses that he has deserved death. The contrition of his heart is the more conspicuous by reason of the contrast with the impenitence of the other thief. This is the true conversion, that one knows himself as not only sinful, but guilty, and of his heart confesses that he deserves the wrath of God and the sentence of death. Thereafter he declares his faith. While the disciples are offended; while the people and their leaders revile; and while the Lord hangs on the cross in deepest disgrace, the glory of the Savior shines so brightly into the soul of the penitent thief that he believes, and confesses, and worships him as the Son of God. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” He that is able thus to pray of a contrite and believing heart shall be saved, as surely as God is just and truthful; they, and none other; for the only road to salvation is by way of repentance and faith.
And now, in words of sublime grandeur, Jesus bestows the gift of paradise upon the thief. With the death which even now he suffers he buys redemption and salvation for all sinners; and hanging on the cross, in the midst of his deepest abasement, he gives to the thief the paradise of glory; by his kingly word he snatches this soul out of death, and translates it into his heavenly kingdom. Is he not the Savior and the King, as is written above his head? Does he carry his crown of thorns in vain? Blessed be thou, Lord Jesus, for all things! We bless thee for that thou didst take the thief with thee from the cross to paradise! Condemned to death, as thou wast, thou didst take this malefactor, who also was under sentence of death, out of death, and didst carry him in triumph to heaven. Give us also of thy mercy true penitence and living faith, and take us to thyself in paradise when our time is come. Help us now, today, to seek thee and find thee in the right order of grace. Amen.
Jesus, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for thee;
May our eyes be ever turning
To thy cross of agony;
Till in glory, parted never
From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever,
Dwell the cross, the Crucified.