"You will be with me in Paradise"
Luke 23: 35 - 43
Our national holiday of Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. While
the image of the day conjures up Pilgrims and Puritans, in the end the day
becomes all about the food, unless of course you happen to be an unfortunate
turkey. Therefore, this is not a day to worry about calories and diets but to
enjoy the feast.
Yet, as that feast is prepared, the first thing that needs to
happen is to gather family and friends to homes and tables. Whether those folks
travel great distances by planes, trains, and automobiles or come from close
by, the gathering of people is a necessary element of that day. Most often, it is the same people who gather
each year, with an occasional visitor now and then, so before the food, more
than anything else, comes a spirit of gratitude.
No matter how easy or challenging the last year has been, the
ultimate virtue of this day is one of thanksgiving. Thankful to be together, thankful for the
freedom we enjoy and so often take for granted in this country and gratitude
ultimately to the God who has called us all into life. It goes without saying
that now is time for the feast!
This weekend, with the close of our liturgical year, we mark
the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The title is long
and not without implications of grand things.
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all humankind and of all
creation. The bonds of death and the
power of evil have lost the battle and will in the end be destroyed by this
“King” of the Universe.
As our readings all throughout the summer and fall season have
been instructions, parables, miracle stories from our Lord, this weekend we
conclude that long yearly series, by an acknowledgement of what it all means
for us. That Jesus, our teacher, wonder worker, and Savior is indeed “King” of
all that is. As we say in the Creed he
is: “God from God; light from light; true
God from true God . . .” To him we owe our obedience and our very lives.
With an image such as that we may feel more fear and trembling
rather than any desire to gather close to this King. But, the Gospel image this Sunday of this
crucified “King of the Jews” is one that gives us pause.
In the fourth century of Christianity we find a familiar quote
from St. Cyril of Jerusalem about the reception of the Holy Eucharist: “Make a throne of your hands in which to
receive the King.” Clearly, the
reception of Communion in the hand was a familiar practice among Christians
before these words were spoken. It
remained the norm for reception for hundreds of years beyond and so was
returned in our own day. Of course, the
alternative reception on the tongue is still appropriate.
The point of the practice is this. In the reception of Holy Communion we do not
receive a thing – a piece of unleavened
bread. We receive a person – the Lord Jesus Christ, our King as St. Cyril reminds us,
in his true risen presence. This King now will sit upon the throne of our
hands. Of course we don’t thank of that
in concrete, literal translation. We see
this in the spiritual sense which is a reality outside of what we know. Have
you given that much thought?
He feeds us with his own person for the King is our food. What sort of King would be so concerned about
his sheep, as we see King David called a shepherd in the first reading, to be
so invested in his subjects as to lay down his life for them? What King has
ever died for his citizens? Not an earthly one to be sure. In a sense, today’s
Feast reminds us that our earthly sense of human power, royalty and prestige is
wrong when it comes to the fullest understanding of what God has done for us in
Jesus Christ the King.
However, from the cross, this Jesus speaks not words of
judgment or issues edicts and proclamations.
He turns to the thief next to him and speaks words of mercy: “Amen, I say to you, this day you will be
with me in Paradise.” It is the food of mercy and forgiveness to an act of
faith in Jesus expressed by the thief: “Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
This King feeds us with an invitation to gather with him around
an altar of mercy and love. As Pope Francis has put: “The Church is a field
hospital.” A place for healing and
comfort on the battle field of our lives.
The same is true in the Holy Eucharist, Christ comes to us as the Divine
Physician and invites us to present our wounds for healing but he at the same
time deserves our gratitude for the sacrifice he has made for our salvation.
We know the origin of the Eucharist – born of a sacred meal but
directly associated with an even greater sacrifice less than twenty four hours
later – that of the Cross. So we see in Jesus’ sacrifice that body he spoke of
the night before: “Take and eat – take
and drink my body and my blood.” This crucified, shepherd King, now raised
in glory wants to feed us for without this food, we have no life. And “life”
here is our ultimate union with this King in Heaven - Eternal life.
From the cross, not only words spoken to a repentant thief, Jesus
offers us – take this body and this blood.
Feed on it.
Like our Thanksgiving meals, our response is to gather, to be
thankful, to be nourished, and to go and feed others with the good news of
mercy and conversion.
How many are hungry that we never see? Though it may feel a bit
unusual at first, maybe an extra chair around your Thanksgiving tables this
Thursday could be added – a throne for the King who will feed you with more
than any table could ever hold. Make room for this shepherd, this crucified
Lord, this King risen in glory who feeds you.
Almighty ever-living God,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of the universe,
grant, we pray,
that the whole creation, set free from slavery,
may render your majesty service
and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Roman Missal: Collect of Solemnity)
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