34th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading: 2 Sam. 5:1–3
In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’” When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.
Second reading: Col. 1:12–20
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: Lk. 23:35–43
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.”
In other words
by Fr. Raymun Festin, SVD (Rome, Italy)
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Next Sunday, we start the Advent season and open a new calendar year in the Church’s liturgy. It is only fitting that on the last day of the liturgical year we honor the Lord Jesus as King, the Alpha and the Omega—the Ruler who, in the splendid words of the prophet Micah (5:2), is the “One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.”
St. Paul also has a beautiful way of expressing in words the divinity of Jesus. In his first letter to Timothy (6:16), he writes, “He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light.” In today’s Second Reading, he writes to the Colossians (1:17), “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Immortal, timeless, ageless, eternal—these are the exclusive and proper adjectives to depict Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
In today’s Gospel, this Eternal Logos who “dwells in unapproachable light” is suspended on the cross-interdicted and restrained, abandoned and helpless, paralyzed and powerless, injured, bloodied and dying, his hands and feet nailed to the Cross.
Isn’t it ironic? The One who “holds all things together”—who is “immortal and dwells in unapproachable light”—is now immobilized, vulnerable, defenseless, and gasping for breath in utter helplessness.
If Jesus lets go of his hold of things in the universe, they will sink back to nothingness because, as St. Paul says, “all things were created through him and for him.” And yet… even in the state of absolute powerlessness, even on the brink of death, Jesus the King shows his power, magnificence, and divinity.
How? By showing immeasurable compassion to the thief on the cross who beseeches the Divine Logos to remember him in heaven. Jesus tells him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In his book The Name of God is Mercy, Pope Francis tells us that God shows his divinity and omnipotence by showing mercy and compassion to us. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that God’s first and highest attribute is Mercy.
That is why we can say that Jesus is God—or that he is the King of all kings—because he shows his power by showing mercy and compassion to us wretched human beings. Jesus is unlike earthly rulers, kings, and leaders who lord it over their subjects, for his kingship is based on mercy and service—not on arrogance, intimidation, and threats. In Jesus’ terms, compassion is power; the more a person is merciful, the more power they wield.