Easter- The Characters in the Story The Penitent Thief

Responses are from a liturgy used on Iona- Wildgoose Publications

Where Christ Walks We will follow

Where Christ stumbles We will stop

Where Christ cries We will listen

Where Christ suffers We will hurt

When Christ dies We will bow our heads in Sorrow

When Christ rises again in glory We will share his endless joy.

There were two thieves hung with Christ on the cross. One was thinking of himself so taunted jesus from his own perspective, the other had more awareness as surmised thus:-

"I don’t know if this bloke is the Son of God, but if he is I hope I’m forgiven. I’m being hung on a cross like him, but I’m a thief, I deserve it, I guess. Remember me Jesus, you came not for the righteous but for sinners like me; remember me Jesus, remember me in your Kingdom."

If we have self awareness we find it easier to be in relationship, all relationships at all kinds of levels. Living a life, a pretence of life, whether face to face or in a virtual world doesn't make us or those around us happy. It is easier to be forgiven if there is some honesty about needing forgiveness. We are all flawed, and yet we are all perfect. In the words of the song, "perfect imperfections". That we beleive is our relationship with God, and we beleive our relationship with God becomes a good model for our relationships with others.  How? Well trust that you are loved, flawed as you are, even if you go on making the same mistakes time after time, you are still loved. So if we can accept this notion of forgiveness for ourselves, we can then extend it to others.

Prayer Heavenly Lord, before we think ourselves too good in comparision to others, or too bad in comparison to other, others; Let us remember the penitent thief who found his faith in Jesus on the cross. Help us to repent of our wrong doings, thinkings and sayings that we may let our faith truly affect our lives.That we may forgive as we have been forgiven. Amen