image by James Tissot, via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus, each of us is both the thief who blasphemes
and the one who believes.
I have faith, Lord, help my lack of faith.
I am nailed to death, there is nothing I can do
but cry out: ‘Jesus, remember me
when you come with your kingdom.’
Jesus, I know nothing, I understand nothing,
in this horrific world.
But you, you come to me, with open arms,
with open heart,
and your presence alone is my paradise.
Ah, remember me
when you come with your kingdom.
Glory and praise to you, you who welcome
not the healthy but the sick,
you whose unexpected friend is a criminal
cut off by the justice of men.
Already you are going down to hell and setting free
those who cry out to you:
“Remember us, Lord,
when you come with your kingdom.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, b. 1940, Archbishop of Constantinople
____________________
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
prayer & verse 
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