Recently, my daily scripture readings brought me to St. Luke's account of the Passion, and I read the verses concerning the two thieves. (Luke is the only Gospel with this story.)
Something occurred to me here that had not before. In the past, I had always felt like St. Dysmas had it a little "easy". After all, all he had to say was "remember me", and he was headed straight to heaven. What I understand now was just how difficult that must have been for him.
Recall that St. Dysmas had been crucified. He was up on a cross, nails through hands and feet. He had probably been scourged. He was struggling to breath, struggling to relieve the pressure on his pinioned feet and hands, terrified of his impending death. How easy would it have been to be bitter like the nameless other thief? How easy to beg God to get him off that cross, and to blame God when that didn't happen? How difficult to remain gracious and humble during the most difficult point of his life?
We all must take a lesson from St. Dysmas. It is easy to say "remember me", to pray, to be gracious, when life is going well, when we feel blessed, when we feel that God has answered our prayers. But when we are suffering, when we are spiritually dry, when God seems indifferent to our pain, we too often push aside our devotions and our prayers. We too often rail against God, accuse Him of indifference, blame Him for our difficulties.
In a marriage, we prove our love in the bad times, not the good. It is the same in our relationship with God.
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