The Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief

Location: Beachy Head West car park

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Genuflect

People: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Stand

Reader: A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (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 in your kingly power.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Sit/Kneel

Leader:
Described by some as the thief who stole paradise — honoured as a saint — the good thief accepts his fate. As he turns away from sin, he sees Jesus as the eternal source of life. Saint Dismas is remembered and held up as hope for change for us all, no matter what we’ve done. Let us abandon our misery for the freedom found in the love and mercy of Christ. Having judged themselves in the face of God, the one who asked to be freed would fall; the other, in acceptance, would rise.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, should I be so blessed as the good thief, let my sins not keep me from you: let me receive the gift of your salvation with open arms. My trust is in you. Amen.

All stand

Leader: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Christ, have mercy. People: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord, have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy.

 

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