Just a word before we go...Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe...November 20, 2022
How do you think the “Good Thief” dared to approach Jesus to ask for mercy? Surrounded by those who had tortured and ridiculed Jesus, partnered with the thief hanging on the other side of Jesus, he alone responded to the invitation to seek forgiveness, to ask for redemption.
Did you hear the invitation? Jesus didn’t speak it in words, but rather with his life. His integrity did the inviting. Jesus was who he said he was. He lived as he believed, up to the point of dying on the cross. The good thief recognized this integrity, and its implicit offer of mercy. He had most likely heard about this itinerant preacher and his ways of forgiveness and reconciliation. He might even have witnessed Jesus’ care for the poor, his pursuit of justice, his non-violent stance. Now, he finds himself in his company, hanging next to him under a placard that declares facetiously that he is the king of the Jews. Only in the eyes of the thief, the sign is not mocking Jesus ...the words are proclaiming the truth, and the unnamed repentant thief recognizes that truth, and responds by asking for mercy.
This truth, that Jesus is the King of the universe, is a paradox when we consider our human interpretation of the word king. This king is one who loves his people, who considers service to them, especially to the poor, to be his mission. This is not a king who condemns, who speaks violence, who derides, but one who is a model of welcome, reconciliation and inclusion. This king utters his promise, his invitation into the kingdom, to all... not always with words, but through his authenticity, his integrity, the way he lived his life and the way he died.
The preface for our celebration today states that this kingdom is of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace. By virtue of our baptism, when we were proclaimed to have priestly, prophetic and royal roles, we were united with Jesus in helping this kingdom unfold. And following his example, that means serving the most vulnerable among us, living authentic lives of integrity, practicing what we preach. The question that remains for us is whether we recognize Jesus’ invitation to follow him, and if we have the courage and the faith to ask him to remember us.