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“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

On Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King or the Reign of Christ.

As church feasts go, this one is rather recent. 

Pope Pius XI established the feast in 1925. This was during a time of gathering darkness throughout Europe: the world was being gripped by nationalist, secularist, anti-Semitic, and authoritarian-fascist dictators.

Pius XI instituted 'Christ the King Sunday' to refocus the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ on Earth — why we are here at all – to be icons of God’s love in this world.

As Christ’s disciples, we are to serve the world as Christ did: loving God his Father and loving all people as neighbours – even to the extent of admonishing us to pray for and love our enemies.

This would be a hallmark of a Christlike life: to love others as Christ loved all others: as our Risen Lord and King loves us today.

No doubt, Pius XI would recognize the signs of a similar gathering darkness once again, throughout the world today: so-called “strong men,” dictators, and fascist governments are again promising peace and prosperity.

Jesus lived during similar times and was ultimately put to death at the command of a cruel leader exercising the will of an oppressive empire.

And so, in the Gospel for this day, we find ourselves at the place of the skull, a hillside outside the city gates of Jerusalem. It is the place where the Romans have crucified countless others who were considered, like Jesus, to be a threat to the empire.

As Jesus is crucified alongside two other criminals, he forgives the soldiers doing the empire’s dirty work.

“For they do not know what they are doing.”

People in the crowd and leaders of the community are mocking Jesus. If indeed he is the Christ, the Saviour of God’s people, why does he not save himself? Why doesn’t he order his followers, who are many, to revolt?

The disciples and the readers all know, however, that is not the way of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Then, one of the criminals (also crucified) joins in the jeering.

“Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other says, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He continued, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Good News for all humankind is that the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness, is open to all today, here, and now.

The cross was not the end of the story. It was just the beginning.

It was the beginning of the reign of the resurrected Christ, whose Spirit is with us, and in us, at all times.

Peace+