The Ancient Witnesses

218 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“Christ’s crucifixion was the culmination of his Incarnation and earthly ministry,” added Mentor. “Yes,” Bishop Leo agreed, “and his passion contains the very mystery of our salvation. Notice that the cross itself, though designed for torture, became for us a step up to glory. For this is what the Lord Jesus undertook for the salvation of all when, as he was being held to the wood by the nails, he implored his Father’s mercy for his murderers, saying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do . 106 “Notice also,” he continued, “that the very arrangement of the gallows—one on his right hand and one on his left—shows the criterion that will be applied when he comes again to judge all humans. On the one side, the faith of the believing thief prefigured those who were to be saved, while wickedness on the part of the blasphemer foreshadowed those who were to be condemned.” “Thank you, Bishop,” said Mentor, who summarized, “Surveying the crucifixion scene, we behold God’s forgiveness extended by his Son from the cross. Here, too, is the destiny of believers, in the person of the believing thief, and unbelievers—the blaspheming thief. Mentor now introduced the second witness, Bishop Peter Chrysologus, whose name he explained meant “golden-word.” 107 “The human mind can hardly grasp that God is born and dies!” began Chrysologus. “But why did the origin of the universe, the author of nature, will to be born,

106 Luke 23:34.

107 Chrysologus was a fifth century Bishop of Ravenna, Italy, known also as the Doctor of Sermons .