R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

“King” is a word we do not normally use to describe Jesus since we associate the word “king” with power and majesty, which Jesus did not display. If you heard someone describing Jesus as king, you might reply “but he was born in a stable.” True, Jesus was not the kingly, majestic type. When Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said they could all be his if Jesus worshipped him, Jesus replied that only God is to be worshipped.

In many ways we see that Jesus’ kingdom is totally at odds with any display of power in this world. Jesus kept company with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes, so much so that the authorities described Jesus as “a glutton, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” You would expect kings to receive important people and dignitaries, but Jesus received the lowly, rejected and poor people of His time. A king might expect to receive a gift, but Jesus gave gifts and He restored health to those who were sick. Kings wear crowns. What sort of crown did Jesus wear? A crown of thorns. What throne do we see Jesus sitting in the Gospel today? It is the throne of the cross. So Jesus’ idea of king and power is totally opposite to the world’s idea of a king and power.

In the Gospel today, we see Jesus sitting on the most unusual throne of the cross. “King of the Jews” was written over it. In that moment of pain and humiliation was passing, and then Jesus assumed his throne at the right of his Father. This can teach us something…….to bring about the kingdom of God, we may have to abandon what the world considers important and be prepared to be ridiculed as Jesus was on the cross. It is not easy for the Church now trying to establish the kingdom of Jesus in a society growing secular each day. But for those who die to themselves, who truly open themselves to Jesus, the reward is a share in Jesus’ kingdom “Indeed I promise you, today, you will be with Me in paradise.”

This feast is an invitation to all those who have power or authority of any kind to compare their use of power or authority with Jesus. Are they using their power to serve others or to manipulate? Are they using their power for the building up of a more just society or to feather their own nest? Are they using their power in any way that might cause pain to others or in a way that could help to alleviate pain? In the prayer Jesus taught us, we pray “thy kingdom come.” Jesus has shown how to bring about that kingdom. We hope that nations and individuals will be humble enough to look at how Jesus used power and bring about the kingdom of God.

Deacon Anthony Falasca, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
‘You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.'”
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.