Reflection on the Gospel Reading on The Solemnity of Christ the King

Lk 23:35-43

The supposed mockery of ‘the King of the Jews’ at Jesus turned out that he is indeed ‘the King of the Jews’. Though this title announced was meant to insult or mock at him, it turns out to be a true prophesy. What does this tell me from the gospel reading this morning? Human minds may be fixed in some ways. Most of the time, I would expect a king to be adorned with grandeur and glory sitting on the golden throne. However, Jesus, as ‘the King of the Jews’, came down to all of us in a totally unexpected way where he was insulted and suffered at all levels when he had ‘done nothing criminal’.


This tells me not to look at things or people on a superficial level and judge. It gives me the hope that everyone is just as capable to be Christ-like no matter how sinful or unworthy we seem to be, just like the two criminals beside him who had the honour to die with him. If God could work such miracles through the resurrection from the death of Jesus Christ who is ‘the King of the Jews’ where the people might not see God’s Love from his sufferings at first, God can also work wonders in my life, even out of the seemingly hopeless and helpless moments. He is the Creator who knows me thoroughly and will love me with His perfect Love which no other people or things can bring. He has His creative ways of loving which is beyond any human imagination. Whenever I lose hope, it just means that I am hindering God’s creativity with my own limited human imagination or rational mind and shut myself to God. I close myself to what God is capable of doing to my life.

The question is: Do I have the faith to open up myself to Jesus and tell Jesus ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Do I even trust that there is this paradise waiting for me at the other side with Jesus waiting for me as long as I follow Jesus even it means to carry my own crosses in life? During my reflection, as one of the Taize prayers keeps on ringing in my mind ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’, the gospel on this day gives me more confidence and faith that Jesus is looking towards me in the paradise waiting for me as I visualize myself as the criminal full of sins with Jesus looking into my eyes and says, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." I can’t explain such experience and conviction. I just ‘know’. Such feeling is even more ‘high’ than taking alcohol or drugs. I know I am loved no matter what is going on around me. Such moment is a taste of paradise with Jesus during my quiet time with Him.

With Love,
Elena