Recall the Gospel, and St. Luke's words:

"One of the criminals, who was hanged,

railed at him saying:

'Are you - not the Christ?

Save yourself - and us.'

But the other criminal said this:

'Lord, remember me

when you come to your kingdom.'

And Jesus looked at him and said:

'I say unto you, this day

thou shalt be with me in Paradise.' "

Two condemned criminals, hanging on a cross,

and each man is staring death right in the face.

And both men have something different to say:

The first criminal rails in his anger,

asking God a question,

"Are you - not the Christ?"

In other words, "If you're really God,

then what are we doing up here?"

The question is why,

for God's sake, why this?

But the second criminal offers a prayer:

"Lord, remember me

when you come to your kingdom."

Not the question of why,

for time is running ou…