November 24, 2013 (Lk. 23:35-43) The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the Christ the king and the culmination of the year of faith. Our gospel today talks about the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the king of the universe. As Jesus hung on the cross, the people stood by, watched him and sneered at him and said, He save others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God. (Lk. 23: 35) The people were disappointed because Jesus, whom they believed to be their savior was hanging on the cross. They forgot that Jesus promised to come again on the third day in accordance with the scripture and this is the will of God, the Father. The death of Jesus on the cross is the manifestation that he is the messiah of God. During that time, the crucifixion was applicable to those persons who have committed grievous crime. Above him there was an inscription that read, IESUS NAZARENO REX IEODAEORUM (INRI) which means, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. (cf. Lk. 23: 38) Jesus Christ is the king of all universe, but this does not mean that he governs a royal kingdom or earthly kingdom. Jesus kingdom is the Eternal bliss or the promise of the life after death. The whole Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of kingship of Jesus today. Do we accept him as a king? We must accept Jesus in our hearts as a king so that he will reign forever in us. If we let Christs kingship reign over us, he will acknowledge us as his own. But the question is how do we allow Christ to reign over ourselves? Today is the culmination of the year of faith which was opened by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI on October 11, 2012. We must express our faith to God wholeheartedly. Each one of us is called to live our faith to God by virtue of our baptism and in the same way, we are also called to live the kingly role of Christ in serving others. This calling somehow teaches us to live a life of service, as what Jesus did. Jesus kingship is fulfilled when he serves those people who need him most. We must express our faith through our actions. As what St. James had said, Faith without action is dead. We must strengthen our faith so that Jesus may be able to reign in our hearts. In the last part of the gospel, a criminal asked for forgiveness and said to Jesus, 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. (Lk. 23:42-43) How blessed this man is? The forgiveness and blessings he asked was received because of his great faith to God that saved him. I think, he is an example of being faithful to God, and we are encourage to do the same in a very simple way. I hope that at the end of the day, Jesus would say to you, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. VIVA CRISTO REY!!!
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:47:10 +0000
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