WC 23/11 KING

We take this theme from the Gospel reading of the

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

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GATHER

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

1. What makes someone powerful?

2. How do people express their status or power?

3. If you were a king or queen, what would be most important rule of your kingdom?

WORD

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke: Glory to you O Lord.

At that time: The rulers scoffed at Jesus, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there railed at Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

RESPONSE

This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. When we picture a king, we usually picture gold, power, and glory.

Yet when we look at the Gospel passage appointed for this feast, we find Jesus’s throne is a cross, his crown is made of thorns, and his royal robe is his own blood.

This is a picture of total humiliation - not royal privilege.

As Jesus hangs between two criminals, he is mocked by the very people he came to save. The rulers sneer, saying,

"He saved others; let him save himself,

if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"

Even one of the criminals joins in the teasing. They demand the powerful, visible kingship they expected: a king who conquers, crushes enemies, and at the least saves himself.

But Jesus’s kingship is defined not by how much power he exerts, but by how much power he surrenders in love. This moment on the Cross show us the way of his kingdom where the powerful serve the vulnerable and the strong protect the weak.

The God of infinite power, allows himself to become the most vulnerable. He accepts suffering so that we do not have to endure ours alone. His rule is not about taking from others, but about giving himself.

Jesus does not seek justice or revenge for the mocking he endures. Instead, he turns to the repentant criminal next to him, who has nothing left but a request for mercy. Christ's final act is to offer to this criminal what he is denying himself - and end to suffering and peace:

"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

This is how we are to live out the celebration of Christ the King. We are to copy His kingship of sacrifice, where true strength is shown not in force, but in sacrifice and service. Our faith calls us to live this radical kingship every day. When we use our gifts, our intelligence, or our popularity to lift up others, to defend someone, or to forgive those who offend us. Then we are acting like citizens of Christ's kingdom. We are choosing to serve with our strength, rather than rule with it. If we do this, we build God's kingdom here on earth, a kingdom we hope we one day will inhabit for all eternity.

How does Jesus’ message challenge or comfort you?

MISSION

Identify one area where you have power or influence over someone else (e.g., in a group project, a sports team, or over a younger sibling). Instead of using that power for your own gain, choose to serve them by taking on a burden or protecting them, thereby living out Christ's kingship of sacrifice.

COLLECT

Let us pray…

Almighty ever-living God,

whose will is to restore all things

in your beloved Son, the King of the universe,

grant, we pray,

that the whole creation, set free from slavery,

may render your majesty service

and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever. Amen.