Recognize the King!

Christ the King 20 November 2016

First reading
2 Samuel 5:1-3

All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ‘Look’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and they anointed David king of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 121(122):1-5

Second reading
Colossians 1:12-20

We give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join the saints and with them to inherit the light.   Because that is what he has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins. He is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible, Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers – all things were created through him and for him. Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity. Now the Church is his body, he is its head. As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way; because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.

 

Gospel	Luke 23:35-43

The people stayed there before the cross watching Jesus. As for the leaders, they jeered at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

  One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’ he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’

  Reflection
By Carlo Alexis Malaluan  

Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise (Lk 23:43). 

Let us think of the characteristics of a King. The title of a king often conveys authority, power and dominion, honor, glory, and pomp. We can imagine a monarch wearing the finest vestments, endowed with the most precious jewelries and crown, and sitting in a golden throne. That is our definition of a king, but not God’s. Our King is not wearing the finest vestments, instead he is wearing a blood-stained cloth. He is not endowed with the finest jewelries but is wearing a crown of thorns. He is not sitting on a golden throne, instead hangs on the cross. All of our earthly kings wanted to become God. Our King decided to become man so that He can give His love to humanity. He is called as the King of Mercy.

Our Gospel presents the Crucified Lord. He who is called as the Messiah and King of the Jews is a picture of powerlessness and defeat before the powerful, the rulers, and the soldiers who scoff at Him. But one man, a sinner crucified with him, acknowledges the real essence of our Lord’s Kingship. He is helpless but not hopeless. He expresses his hope in a kingdom that is far greater than the kingdoms of this world. Our King assures the repentant thief of the life beyond death.

Mercy and Compassion that redeemed us from sin and death is the very heart of Christ’s kingship. The powers of this world cannot save a person from death but Christ’s mercy can elevate it to life. Jesus may seem to be powerless on the cross but it reveals His triumph over sin and death. Through the cross, He dominated every hearts of people no matter how hard it was before. His kingship is not dictatorship but is proven in service and self-giving, it does not destroy rather it builds life. And through the cross, everyone can hope for the Kingdom of our King. 

Christ is our King, what’s next? We must align ourselves with the repentant thief. We know how much we have caused the King pain, but let us turn back to Him and trust in Him. Today marks the end of our year-long celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy but I assure you, God’s mercy will never end here. It surpasses time and conquers hearts. Let your hearts be conquered by love. How? Trust in God. Subject yourself in His power. Recognize Him as the King of your life. 

Prayer

We adore You, King of our hearts. You are full of Mercy and love for the humanity who constantly turns You down. Grant us the grace to approach You hanging on the cross and confide our trusts in You alone and together with the repentant thief we pray, Lord, remember us when You come into your Kingdom. We acknowledge our sins and transgression that brought us to the realization of how great Your mercy is. Grant us the grace to adore and praise You in each moment of our life. Amen.