Kingship

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Kingship

Humility   Love

Sacrifice   Promised   Salvation

Remember Me In Kingdom

Inheritance

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 23:42 and 43

Jesus was on the cross and two criminals were crucified beside Him. One of the criminals was reviling Jesus while the second recognized the innocence of Jesus.

The second criminal said to Jesus, "Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Reflection

In the United States we are not too happy with the concept of a king or a queen. We think of kings as individuals with too much power and very little accountability to anyone else. We are used to having a say in how we are governed.

The kingship of Jesus is very different. Jesus does not exercise power over others. He comes with humility. He wants to serve and to help. He brings Good News. He has come to bring freedom and not oppression.

The kingship of Jesus is a kingship of Love and not of power. Jesus thinks of the needs of the people. He feeds them when they are hungry. He heals them when they are sick. He listens to those whom everyone else ignores.

Jesus is willing to make sacrifices and to offer Himself in sacrifice. He faced opposition and eventually death. He remained faithful to His mission from the Father in spite of all the obstacles He would face.

Instead of promising that people would be His subjects and have no freedom, Jesus promised salvation. He spoke about forgiveness and encouraged people to forgive others if they wanted to experience God's forgiveness. On the cross Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were putting Him to death.

In our reading from Luke, we see the contrast between two attitudes toward Jesus. The one criminal attacks Jesus and puts Him down. He wants Jesus to save him without putting any faith in Jesus or trust in Him. 

The second criminal recognizes who Jesus is. He knows Jesus is innocent. He humbly asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. He knows that Jesus is different---He is special.

Jesus responds with Love. He tells this criminal that He will take care of him. He will protect him forever. He will be with him always. They will be together in Paradise.

Jesus is a different kind of king. He has come to serve others and not to subjugate them. His kingship leads those He evangelizes to form a community that will accept everyone and help those in need and those who are forgotten by others.

When we follow Jesus, we are called to imitate His forgiveness, His humility, and His service to all. Our King will always be with us and encourage us with His Love!

1. What is your feeling about kings?

2. How is Jesus different from other kings?

3. How important is forgiveness to being a good king?

4. What are some ways you try to follow Jesus as your King?

5. What do you feel as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)