2016 Nov. 20 _ 34th Sunday (year
C), Christ the King
• Samuel
5:1-3 • Salmo 121 • Colosenses 1:12-20 • Lucas 23:35-43
•
[__01__] Jesus
reminds us to consider the present moment. Right now. Today
These
are our Savior’s words to the person, the convicted criminal , crucified with
him on Calvary: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
“Today you
will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
[__02__] Well known words, these are, that we keep as
part of our tradition and profession of faith in the resurrection of the body
and the forgiveness of sins.
“Today you
will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
[__03__] However,
if you or I were to receive some bonus
or reward or compensation, do we focus
immediately with gratitude on the present moment. Yes, sometimes, we do. On the other hand, we are also inclined to
consider not only today’s immediate lump-sum distribution but rather, in terms
of –
►
what history of achievement or work effort has led to this reward? What have I been earning? What did I do, in
order to deserve this? In other words, we think about the past rather than
today.
►
on other hand, we also consider – with this reward or compensation, we start to
calculate, how long this is to going to last?
In other words, we think about the future.
Jesus
invites the criminal at Calvary - and
you and me - to consider the gift of TODAY.
“Today you
will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
[__04__] In the Gospel scene at Calvary, we read about
two criminals crucified – sentenced to death – with Jesus.
Both of them have a history of crimes
and misdemeanors, a past, a record with
the police, the authorities.
One of the two readily an easily
accepted responsibility for his actions saying to Jesus and to the other
crucified man: “We have been condemned justly, for the sentence we
have received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
(Luke 23:41)
[Repeat / paraphrase the above]
[__05__] So, based on his history, this man to whom we
refer as the “good thief” of the Gospel believes that, due to his history, he
deserves punishment and penalty both now in the future.
Nevertheless, TODAY, in the Gospel, he
makes one final plea,
“Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke
23:42)
Then, Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in
Paradise.” (Luke
23:43)
[__06__] Jesus is focused on today, right now.
This is a call and appeal to us for
charity and love:
►
how can I love today the people in my life?
►how
can I forgive today the person by whom I have been injured or hurt?
►how
can I extend myself generously to someone in need?
[__07__] St. Paul in 1st Corinthians,
chapter 13, in his famous section about LOVE and CHARITY, reminds us that the
call to LOVE is for the present moment.
Paul writes that not only is love “patient and kind and not jealous” but also that “love does not brood over injury, it
does not rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:4,6)
[__08__] Sometimes, the truth of today may be difficult
to face. We may prefer to hide. Jesus is
instructing us to face and admit our faults, because there is freedom and the
paradise of mercy awaiting. Today.
In matters serious or small, we may
prefer to hide or just to get what we deserve. Jesus is promising us more than
we deserve.
[__09__] I
recall this small matter in which I preferred to hide rather than reveal.
One day years ago, I received a phone
call from my father about a receipt – a document – for a car repair. Very naively, I had left the receipt at his
house. Now, I was being asked – interrogated – about the repair on my car.
I was particularly proud of this car. I
do not even own this car anymore or drive it. I’m still proud of it. I was particularly proud of this car not
because it was a very nice car, but because it was my not very nice car, and
the first car I had ever owned.
When
I bought the car, in the past, at the dealership, the price seemed very
reasonable. I put the full amount on my credit card and drove away.
In the present, this used Nissan needed
some major repairs. Thus, the phone call.
“Did you really have to buy a new
power steering system for the car? And, what about these disc brakes, ”
I suppose every family has its
competitiveness and rivalries which are intertwined with love for the other. In
a competitive sense, I felt a bit diminished, a bit of a “loser” recalling all
the money I had spent on this car with 103,000 miles.
Pride made me hide.
Though I had spent my own money, I did
not want to have this conversation. I did not want to admit this. I was not
rejoicing in the truth and said, “Dad, can we talk about this later?”
And, very graciously, my father ceased
and desisted. I think he kind of understood.
Twenty years or so later, we have
never – somehow – gotten around to discussing it.
Of course, this is a small matter.
But, what about very very important
things?
Today – the truth of today – is
sometimes scary, frightening, humbling …
or a little humiliating.
It may invite us to change, to
conversion of heart, to change our ways. Jesus may disrupt our lives.
[__10__] [__07__] In
any act of confession or contrition, we are called not simply to consider what
the circumstances were in the past or whether we were angry or sad or tired or
double-crossed.
Confession
is not about the past but the present.
Maybe,
we would do things differently today.
That’s
conversion of the heart.
So,
in confession of our faults, it’s certainly acceptable – and healthy – for us
to say, Father, forgive me, I did not know what I was doing.
This
is also the Good News of Jesus at Calvary,
“Father
forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
And,
you or I can do the same and ask God to forgive us because … I did not know
what I was doing.
However,
I know now.
That’s what the thief on the cross professes, “I
know now what I was doing” and…
“Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke
23:42)
When
we confess our sins and faults, we profess our faith in God’s love and mercy,
our faith that he welcomes us home, our faith that he died for our sins on
Calvary and rose from the dead.
He
will even forgive us at the last possible moment. That moment is now. Reading the Gospel, we know this now.
Today.
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