JESUS CHRIST THE UNIVERSAL KING
THE POWER TO FORGIVE AND TRANSFORM
2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43
In the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Archbishop of Paris preached:
Some years ago, three young tourists—rude and cynical—came into this cathedral. Two dared the third to make up a confession. The young man went and arrogantly made his confession. The confessor told him: “For your penance, stand before the crucifix, look into the face of the crucified Christ and say: ‘All this you did for me, and I don’t give a damn!’” The young man went out and bragged that he had completed the dare; but the other two insisted he finish the dare by doing the penance. So he re-entered the cathedral, stood before the crucifix, looked up into the face of Christ and began: “All this you did for me and I… I… I don’t… I don’t give…” he couldn’t continue.
At this point, the archbishop leaned over the pulpit and said: “That young man stands before you to preach today.”
This is the power of our King has: the power to forgive and transform through love and the cross.
On the cross, stripped of everything—clothes, strength, dignity—Jesus retains his power
In a world which gives importance to territory, power, wealth, rhetoric, and show… Jesus is a king
whose kingdom has no boundaries and goes beyond nationality;
whose citizens are the poor, the lost, the marginalized;
whose crown is compassion
whose throne is the crib and the cross;
whose authority is that of humble and loving service;
whose law is love;
whose life and death was among sinners.
Is Jesus my king? If so… Do I imitate him and his way of love and mercy, humility and service? Do I allow him to transform me with the power of his love and his cross?
By: Fr. Dr. Vinod Mascarenhas SDB
