The Solemnity of Christ the King, The Year of Mercy

This is the homily I gave on Sunday slightly edited to fit the blog format.

2 Sm 5.1-3; Ps 122.1-5; Col 1.12-20; Lk 23.35-43

This is the last Sunday of the Church Liturgical year. Next week we begin Advent, where we anticipate the birth of Jesus into the world. And so on this last Sunday of the year it is appropriate that we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, the feast day of our church. Today we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the formation of our parish and the 27th anniversary of the dedication of our Church. It is truly a joyous event. It’s a time for remembrances and thanksgiving for all that has happened in our parish; for all the wonderful ministries that have been formed over the years. It is a time to thank God for the wonderful development of our parish as a faith community, praying together, staying together; for all the out-reach to those in need, both materially and spiritually that we as a parish have fostered.

Last night we celebrated the hundreds of volunteers to the various ministries in our church with an evening of appreciation. It is appropriate that this occurs during this week of Thanksgiving – we have much to be thankful for.

And yet the gospel reading today brings us back to reality. Who was Jesus when he was on earth? What did he do? Who was he to those around him? More Importantly, Who is he now? Who is he to each of us here?

The problem is we don’t always recognize Jesus in our midst. We can picture him on the Cross or seated on his throne of glory. But do we see him in the beggar in the street? Do we see him in the poor or immigrant? Do we see him in our spouse, our brother or sister, or our own child or parent? Do we see him in the person who treats us meanly at work, the neighbor who is always complaining, the bully at school.

It is much easier to love someone who we get along with and have a good relationship with. But what about our relationship with those around us we find difficult to love? We show our love to Christ through the relationships that we have with those around us. All relationships are ultimately a relationship with God. As Dorothy Day put it “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”



It is interesting the gospel reading that is chosen for us today. It’s not about the glorious risen Christ, the one who rose from the dead on that Easter some 2000 years ago. The Gospel is about Jesus hanging on the cross in pain and agony and utter humiliation. He is hanging between two thieves, jeered at by the rulers and taunted by the soldiers. Yes, there is an inscription above him that read “This is the King of the Jews.” But even that was written in mockery. This is our King? How glorious can that be? The only crown he had was a crown of thorns brutally mashed into his head.

Today’s Gospel also relates to another event we celebrate today, the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of “The Year of Mercy”. Even as Jesus is dying in agony on the cross, He shows compassion and mercy. Jesus is tempted by one thief to save his life but instead, offers mercy and forgiveness to the repentant thief. The thief says to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus responds, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Christ Our King, Our Savior, is the king of the poor, the immigrant, the forgotten, the lost. He is King of the vulnerable, the hurting, the despairing, the downtrodden. But aren’t we all vulnerable at times – more times than we care to think about. Don’t our hearts and souls hurt at times and are in need of healing. Sometimes we are despairing and we need comfort. It is only when we acknowledge our sinfulness as the repentant thief did and bow down before the cross, are we saved. When we accept and acknowledge our mortality, Jesus does not disappoint. He offers us compassion, mercy and forgiveness. He offers his body in the Eucharist to strengthen us. It is never too late to turn to Christ. The invitation of Christ is always there. He invites us to ask for forgiveness and to offer him our service.

Where there is life, there is hope. We are always in need of his mercy and forgiveness. Pope Francis said today as he was closing the doors on the Year of Mercy, "Let us ask for the grace of never closing the doors of reconciliation and pardon, but rather of knowing how to go beyond evil and differences, opening every possible pathway of hope." “Even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy, which is the heart of Christ, always remains open for us.”


We all might keep in mind on this Feast of Christ the King the words the repentant thief said. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”

Deacon Greg Beckel