This is the last Sunday of the year. It is the Feast of Christ the King. The year concludes with proclaiming Jesus as King of Heaven and Earth.
The Gospel of Luke today gives us the comments of three witnesses to the death of Jesus – the leaders, the soldiers and the “good” thief. Firstly, the leaders: “he saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen one”. Then the soldiers: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was the inscription: “This is the king of the Jews.” And finally, the good thief: “Save yourself and us as well”.
Surely three different concepts of Kingship. It is always amazing to me that there can be so much badness in the presence of such goodness. Jesus is on the Cross in his last agony and some people can be so unkind. Yet Jesus can still be offering salvation and forgiveness to those who are open to him. “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus is Lord and King of the world and Lord of our lives. The Feast today reminds us of our obligations to our King. Jesus wants to be the Lord of our lives- everything. We renew our dedication and consecration to the King of our lives. And Jesus renews his promise: “I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”