“Of Thy mystical supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant. For I will not speak of Thy mysteries to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss, as did Judas, but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.” (from The Communion Prayer of St. John Chrysostom)
Every one of the Orthodox faithful prays these lines immediately before receiving the Holy Eucharist. Thus, at the central moment of the Divine Liturgy, not only are the Church Fathers reminding us of “the thief,” today known as St. Dismas, but are inviting us to associate ourselves with him–to spiritually align ourselves with the prisoner. But what does this really mean?
The story of St. Dismas is well known to many of us, recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel and read each year on Great and Holy Thursday, in commemoration of Our Lord’s crucifixion.
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at [Jesus], 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 into Your Kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” (Luke 23: 39-43)
But St. Dismas is not the only person with a criminal record our Church now venerates. Indeed, some of Her most beloved saints had an especially violent or criminal past. St. Moses the Black was a murderer before he repented and became one of the most influential of our Desert Fathers. St. Mary of Egypt relished in years of prostitution, even on her way to Jerusalem, before spending decades in the desert in prayer and repentance. Perhaps the easiest example to overlook, Saul was famous for authorizing the deaths of Christians before he became St. Paul, world-traveler to spread the Gospel and author of most of the New Testament.
Why is the Church inviting us to be like them? Or, perhaps a better question: what does it mean to confess Christ “like the thief”?
As the national prison ministry of the Orthodox Church, we have been fortunate enough to see firsthand what “the thief’s” confession looks like. For those in prison and on the path of repentance, time and again we witness a sincerity and commitment that would dwarf most of our spiritual lives on the outside.
For those incarcerated, the Gospel becomes more real. When Christ asks the man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be healed?” (John 5) this story will likely bear more weight for someone reading from behind bars. This is why Deacon Seraphim, a longterm volunteer chaplain for people on Death Row, can say people in prison are “the lucky ones,” because they know their sins. They know what needs to be healed. They are ready for Christ to ask.
“Though I did not know my way home, nor how to be saved,” wrote one man in prison, ” Jesus Christ proved to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). This is why prison is a perfect spiritual arena, the Monastery of the Prodigal Son. Although most men here may not realize they’re in a ‘monastery,’ the good Lord knows each of His straying sheep. Regardless of past crimes, origin or status in our dilapidated monastery, God is calling all of us to salvation in His Son.”
As we approach Christ’s death and holy resurrection, may we accept the Church’s invitation to be “like the thief”. May we confess Christ, more aware of our sins and farther away from any notion of our own holiness. And in confessing like the thief, may Christ, too, deliver us to Paradise with Him.