Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Gospel
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
"He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read,
"This is the King of the Jews."
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reflection
As we conclude our liturgical year of grace and this season of Ordinary Time, the Church invites us to ponder Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This glorious title initially seems to contrast sharply with today’s Gospel: Jesus suffering, dying, and jeered at upon His Cross. On this solemnity of the Lord’s kingship, why should we reflect upon this passage where Jesus’ royal dignity is mocked and denied?
In truth, Christ on the Cross is the only way we can understand Christ the King. The “King of the Jews” was expected to be a triumphant liberator from Roman rule, but Our Lord’s kingship is not exercised through territorial power. Rather, Jesus is King of the universe because He has drawn all creation into His heavenly kingdom, and because through Him Heaven has already begun to break into our world.
Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of Heaven on earth when God Himself became man and assumed our nature, our suffering, and our consequences. In the second reading, St. Paul calls us to give thanks because we have been transferred into the Kingdom of the beloved Son, “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of reconciliation—the gathering of all God’s people in and through His Son who became one of us. Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross is the very heart of this unification: it is our redemption and the supreme act of divine mercy. Thus, it is the kingliest act of all from our King of Mercy.
In the Gospel, the soldiers and even one of the criminals say that if Jesus truly were the King of the Jews, He would save Himself. But they have kingship all wrong. A true king offers His life for His people, and Our God who reigns in Heaven made a gift of Himself on the Cross so that, as St. Paul puts it, He could “reconcile all things to Himself.”
Paul says Jesus “is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” This cosmic Lord who preceded all of creation—through whom and for whom all things were made—shows most perfectly who He is through His loving self-gift at Calvary.
Let us respond to our merciful King like the “good thief” did, humbly acknowledging our own sinfulness, recognizing the innocence and authority of Christ, and asking Him to bring us into His kingdom.
As we look towards the coming Advent season, we remember that the Christ child we await is truly King of the Universe—and that His rule is one of perfect love.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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