Author:
Joseph of Jesus and Mary
Second word on the cross
Today you will be with Me in Paradise.
The second Word of Jesus on the cross is an unexpected gift of grace to a dying thief who is confessing that He is the Christ, and the Lord. In His infinite goodness Jesus gives away His Love saying: today you will be with me in Paradise.
The Grace of God touched the heart of this thief when He realized and acknowledged that He was next to God, He conceded his sinfulness in contrast to the holiness of the innocent man being put to death next to him, he accepted that he was being punished because he indeed was a criminal, but in a moment of contrition he surrendered his misery to Jesus saying, Lord, remember me when you enter your Kingdom. He accepted that Jesus was a King and Lord, he not only expressed his repentance but did an act of adoration. Jesus responded to his petition saying: today you will be with me in Paradise.
The agony of Jesus is in His deepest state, his pains are innumerable from the top of his head to the palm of his feet, He wants to conquer all souls, and he does not despise anyone who comes to Him with a contrite heart.
Dear soul, you have come to my Throne of Grace, I am here to forgive you, I don't count your sins, I count your repentance, and, if you indeed have tears of repentance I will treasure them as precious pearls, and I will forget all your sins. Imitate this robber who being a sinful man, came with confidence before me, the Grace of God, and asked me to have pity on Him. At the moment of your death I will be happy to say: today you will be with me in Paradise.
If you study my last seven words carefully, you will come to understand that I am Love, that I don't reject anyone who comes to me, in fact, I invite you all to come into my Kingdom, I want to save you today, do not go away, stay with me meditating my sufferings for your sins and the sins of all mankind. Let this word of mine be engraved in your heart, "today you will be with me in Paradise".
You are saved by my Grace, not by anything that you can do for God, what is required of you is to act justly, to love mercifully, and to walk humbly before my presence (Micah 6:8). If you live by my Will you will be in me and I will be in you, because my words abide in you, and you obey my commandments. (John 15:4) Prepare yourself for the last day of your life when you want me to say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
Be my disciple, do not keep this words to yourself only, proclaim them to everyone, let my salvation reach the ends of the earth, tell them that I forgive sins, and that I want to save them, and assure them that they can also be with me in Paradise.
Back to the last seven words of Jesus on the cross