＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Smuel  5: 1-3

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said,

“We are your bone and flesh. In the past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel. And Yahweh said to you, ‘You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel and you shall be commander over Israel.” Before , Yahweh, king David made an agreement with the elders of Israel who came to him at Hebron, and they anointed him king of Israel.

 

Ps  122  Let us go rejoicing in the house of the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 Colossians 1: 12-20

  Constantly give thanks to the Father who has empowered us to receive our share in the in­heritance of the saints in his kingdom of light.   He rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.   In him we are redeemed and forgiven.

  He is the image of the unseen God, and for all creation he is the firstborn, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible: thrones, rulers, authorities, powers…All was made through him and for him.

He is before all and all things hold together in him. And he is the head of the body, that is the Church, for he is the first, the first rais­ed from the dead that he may be the first in everything, for God was pleased to let fullness dwell in him.

Through him God willed to reconcile all things to himself, and through him, through his blood shed on the cross, God establishes peace, on earth as in heaven.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

 Luke  23: 35-43

  The people stood by watching. As for the rulers, they jeered at him, saying to one another, “Let the man who saved others now save himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God!”

 The soldiers also mocked him and when they drew near to offer him bitter wine, they said, “So you are the king of the Jews? Save yourself!” above Jesus there was an  inscription in Greek, Latin and Hebrew which read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

 One of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, “So you are the Messiah? Save yourself and us as well!”  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Have you no fear of God, you who received the same sentence as he did?

For us it is just: this is payment for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  And he said, “Jesus, re­member me when you come into your king­dom.”  Jesus replied, “In truth, I tell you today, you will be with me to­day in paradise.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

 READ: The first reading recalls David’s anointing as king. In the gospel, Jesus promises Paradise, his kingdom, to one of the criminals. St. Paul exhorts us to thank the Father for his son who rescued, redeemed, and forgiven us and who brought us to his kingdom.

REFLECT: Despite the mockery Jesus in reality is king. But his kingship is not like the system that we know which lords over its subjects. He is a servant whose life is dedicated to the welfare of his people. Through his sufferings on the cross he rescued us from evil, he redeemed us from our wickedness, he freed us from our sins, and he gave us life everlasting. Those who claim to be kings in this world give us benefits that last only for a while. What Jesus gives, no one matches. His are blessings that bring us to eternity.

PRAY: Lord, I surrender my all to you.

ACT: Join the Christ the king procession in the parish today to show your allegiance to Christ the king.  完