Society of the Divine Word

24 November Sunday

Solemnity of Christ the King

The Word

2 Sam 5,1-3 / Col 1,12-20 / Lk 23,35-43

2 Sam 5,1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, and they said: “Look! We are your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was still our king, you were the one who led Israel out in all its battles and brought it back. And the LORD said to you: You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over Israel.” Then all the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron, and at Hebron King David made a covenant with them in the presence of the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.

Col 1,12-20

Brothers and sisters:

Giving 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, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Lk 23,35-43

The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah 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 Messiah?  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.”

In other words…

Ruth is a five-year-old girl blessed with a smiling face and a pair of curious eyes. Her angelic appearance, however, belies her condition. In truth, she is a wounded person, having been sexually abused by a family member. When she came to the Shelter, Ruth was quiet and withdrawn. The long conspicuous scar on her neck bears the mark of a vicious attempt at her life after having been violated. However, several months on, Ruth has, against all odds, come out of darkness. She has survived the cruelty and lives on to tell her story. When one of her friends was leaving the Shelter for good, Ruth said, almost in a whisper: “Please, don’t forget me.”

Today’s Gospel reading presents a very humbling picture of the Lord in Calvary. Sentenced and condemned to death, Jesus, an innocent victim, is crucified between two thieves. The first thief remains defiant and mocks Jesus for claiming that He is the Messiah yet unable to save His own life. The second thief is repentant, saying: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42).

We all need to be remembered. Prophet Isaiah heard Yahweh telling His people: “I will never forget you” (49:15). Misery dwells in a person who thinks God has forsaken him/her. David cried to God when he thought that God was no longer thinking of him (Ps 13:2-3). Jesus, experiencing the horrible feeling of being abandoned, addressed the Father in a most haunting of words: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46)

To remember is to forge relationships. When it is done with compassion, it can last forever. When Jesus bids adieu to his disciples at the Last Supper, He says: “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19b). Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are in effect saying to Jesus: “Yes, Lord, we do remember what you did for us.

As we celebrate today the solemnity of Christ the King, we honor Him by remembering that His Kingdom here on earth is yet to be made complete and be fully realized. There is so much brokenness around us, so much fear, violence, hatred, division, and hurts. We wish people to remember us and think of us with kindness, not with bitterness.

Regardless of who we think we are, our memories shape our life. Regardless of our painful past, healing takes place when we remember to glorify the King of kings, and be always grateful to Him. When we remember that God reigns even in our darkest night, fears, hatred, and sadness will have no hold on us.

– Fr. Sisoy Cellan, SVD