The Story of the Good Thief You've NEVER HEARD | Mthr Natalia

The Eastern Rites have stories we need to hear in the West.

One of the things I love about Mother Natalia's weekly presentations is the unique spin she puts on very familiar Biblical passages. We have been exposed to these passages so often, and heard homily after homily on them that we often grow numb to the notion that there may be alternate ways to look at these passages that further illuminate truths about the human condition as it relates to God. Thank you, Mother Natalia, for shedding new light on well known Biblical stories, whose meaning we often take for granted.

Please don't stop making these, Mother Natalia, you have much wisdom to share :)

I love you Jesus! I’m so sorry for what I’ve done and how I’ve lived. I hate my own wretchedness and I hope that you will forgive me for the evil that I’ve done.

That tradition about “potentially” Mark was beautiful. I really like that story. I know it’s partly speculative… but it feels like it has an air of truth. 😊

I remember reading a story about Jesus and the good thief meeting as children when I was little… can’t wait to watch to see if that’s it!

Raymond Arroyo wrote a children’s picture book about this legend. it is called “the thief that stole heaven”. That is, if this is what you’re talking about

Yes, Mark is not only the Author of this Gospel but the Richman himself. Just as John's Gospel who reflected his own as being loved from Amongst the 12. And yeah, that anonymous young man in the night of betrayal, was no other than the author of the Gospel himself who for the last moment sacrificed to offer the only thing (linen) that is left of him after giving up everything (his wealth) except the fine linen, but now he gave up, even his last fancy to offer it to the Sorrowful Passion of his LORD.

It's my understanding that Dismas was the first Saint. As a Ruthenian who grew up in a Melkite church I have been taught this tradition my whole life. Thanks for sharing it!

Blessed Catherine Emmerich saw in vision what is somewhat related in this story, it is in her book about the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Emmerich describes Dismas was the child of the Thief described in this story and he was cured from a disease when summerged in the water with which our blessed Mother had bathed baby Jesus.

These stories are so beautiful. It would be such a wonderful surprise if one day Jesus reveals the hidden parts of his life. Thanks for sharing, Mother Nathalia

This is so beautiful! And even if the story itself is not necessarily historical, it's a historical tradition - midrash is the Jewish exegesis of scripture, and often includes additional "extra-scriptural" stories about the events that are contained in Scripture, that help interpret the text and understand it better. Stories like these that Mthr. Natalia has so graciously told us today, and stories like Veronica wiping the face of Christ in the Stations of the Cross, and other stories of this nature are, in my opinion, a beautiful continuation of the midrash tradition but in an authentically Catholic way. These stories teach us how to love Christ more and how to be more Christlike. He is risen, let us rejoice!

It is not enough to be loved. I often mistake platonic for romantic and overplay my hand to those who only want to be my friend... pray for me.

I recall a tradition that St. Dismus, the Good & Wise Thief, first encountered Christ either when the Holy Family fled to Egypt or on the return home. He and his band of robbers were going to jump the Holy Family. . .mind you they had some treasures from the Magi. . .but he hesitated and called off the sting. It has similar storylines to this beautiful story.

I remember reading (?Anne Catherine Emmerich) said that Dismas was a baby when Jesus was an infant. Dismas’ mother asked Mary to let her use Jesus’ bath water to heal her son.

St Mark, the first streaker

Thank you Mother, for that very beautiful interpretation of the Rich Young Man being John Mark and loosing ALL his posessions fleeing from Gethsamane and the Hopeful Dismas story.

It is never too late - that is, why St. Dismas, although we know very little of him, is one of my favourite Saints

St Dismas is my patron Saint but I have never heard this story. Thank you for sharing.

I like to imagine Joseph as really strong and tough rather than an old man