Reflect
St. Dismas is my favorite saint. Tradition tells us that he is the man known as The Good Thief whose story come to us in the Gospel of Luke. Broken and humiliated, he hangs on a cross next to Jesus. The other thief begins to mock Jesus but Dismas speaks up, telling the other thief that they are both getting what they deserve but that Jesus has done nothing wrong. He then turns to Jesus and asks, “Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” Jesus responds “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Just imagine! Here is a man at rock bottom yet he is able to reach out to Jesus with hope. He is one of the few figures of the Bible that we know for certain made it to heaven. I have nominated him to be the patron saint for those of us who are broken. Dismas reminds us that no matter how low we sink Jesus is there with a promise of redemption.
Pray
Lord, when I am at a low point,
help me remember the story of Dismas
and how you gave him hope when he, too,
was at a point where he could have lost hope.
Help me remember that,
no matter how low I may sink,
you are there for me.
Act
Reflect on your low points and moments of brokenness. Reflect on how you found hope in those moments.
1 thought on “Reach Out with Hope”
First Day
Meditation:
Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me (Diary, 1210).
My Prayer Response with St. Faustina:
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit (Diary, 1211).