“How worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honor. To him belong glory and authority for ever and ever.”
We have tried to prepare during the entire week for today’s Solemnity, repeating many times the short prayer, Regnare Christum volumus! (We want Christ to reign!), during these past few days and resolving to put the necessary remedy so as for Christ to really reign in our soul.
In today’s Gospel, St. Luke recounts how Our Lord Jesus Christ, who from the Cross, the glorious throne through which He offered Himself as an eternal sacrifice to redeem humanity, has shown us that His Mercy knows no bounds. Jesus, mocked by the Jews, and by the bad thief, who hardens his heart blasphemes Jesus. The other thief, a criminal himself but who humbly and contritely recognizes his sins and meekly directs himself to Our Lord, defends and consoles Our Lord:
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.”
St. Ambrose comments: “The Lord always grants more than one asks: the thief only asked him to remember him, but the Lord says to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ Life consists in dwelling with Jesus Christ, and where Jesus Christ is there is his Kingdom” (Expositio Evangelii sec. Lucam).
All of us are sinners, but Jesus, the King of the Universe, is determined to reign in each one of us, as long as we have the same humble and contrite dispositions of the good thief. Therefore, let no one despair, for God, as we have seen many times in the Gospels, especially at the hour of his Death on the Cross, is bent to wait for us with His arms wide open, ready to forgive us. Let us then allow God’s mercy to reign in our soul through humility, contrition, and confession.
Jesus wants to reign in the world, but “how shall Christ reign in the world? By allowing Him to reign in each one of us. And how will He reign in each one of us? By reigning in each of our actions, our desires, our thoughts (St. Josemaría, ‘Morir para reinar’).”
Dear friends, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, let us direct ourselves to Our Lord who is knocking at the door of our heart and soul, without any coercion on His part, but with the utmost respect of our freedom: “My child, will you give me your heart? Will you allow me to reign in your thoughts, desires, in your life?”
“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 (Opening Prayer, Mass of the Solemnity of Christ the King).”
Have a great weekend friends and may God bless you and your loved ones and may Christ reign in your hearts, thoughts, words and deeds!
VIDEO REFLECTION TOPIC: DO YOU SERVE CHRIST THE KING OR YOURSELF?
1st Reading 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Responsorial Psalm Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 2nd Reading Colossians 1:12-20 Alleluia Mark 11:9, 10 Gospel Luke 23:35-43
As we celebrate today the Kingship of Christ, we reflect on how we have truly treated Him and if we consciously bring Him with us in all our dealings, in what we say and do. If we truly believe that Christ is King of our life, He must reign from the start of our day to the end. He is in charge and in control of our waking life and even our subconscious.
This is the 957th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.
BY RABBONI ARJONILLO
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