Nobody Can Beat That!

Christ The King
25 November 2007


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.

Second reading Colossians 1:11 - 20
You will have in you the strength, based on his own glorious power, never to give in, but to bear anything joyfully, thanking 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 watching him. 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 Nicola S. Albano

Jesus is very forgiving even at the last minute, when Dimas repented for his sins and asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into His kingdom. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ's example. We must obey Him and repent for our sins. It is the right thing to do, which is not always the easy thing to do or the easy way out. But first, we need to swallow our pride, the root of all evil. We must recognize that Jesus is God, thus we must not have other gods (money, material possessions, power, etc.) besides Him.

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, I always get that "goosebumpy" feeling that God is in fact within our midst especially when I utter, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed." This reminds me to have complete faith in God no matter how blind it may seem. It's like driving on cruise control. I also remember the acronym FROG… Fully Rely On God.

Once again, for this month, Jesus tells us in the Gospel that He came to this world to forgive and not to condemn. He died on the cross so that our sins may be forgiven. Talk about unconditional love, huh. Nobody can beat that!

Jesus holds the key to our salvation. Let us remember to keep Him close to our hearts and minds so that we may not fall astray. Amen.