Reading 1 2 Sm 5:1-3 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. Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 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. Reading 2 Col 1:12-20 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. Alleluia Mk 11:9, 10 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. Gospel Lk 23:35-43 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."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER Let us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that we have never been looked upon with a more gentle and compassionate gaze. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and understand that we have never received a more loving embrace. Let us look to the crucified Lord and say: “Thank you, Jesus: you love me and always forgive me, even at those times when I find it hard to love and forgive myself”.
FAUSTI - The text presents the Royalty of Jesus, Principle of Salvation. From the high of the Cross, His throne, the Lord makes God's judgment on the enemies: He forgives and gives the Kingdom to the evildoers. Here we understand well in what sense Jesus is King and what salvation He brings. He is a king who exercises His freedom in serving: His only power is loving to the point of death. His salvation is not what man expects. It is that of a God who makes himself be condemned to the same punishment as us, in order to be with us. "You will be with me, for I, the Emmanuel, am with you. You have not been with me, you have fled far away. And I have come so far here, on the Cross. I want to be with you, so that you can be with me. I came with you on the cross, that you might return with me to the Kingdom. Our covenant is new and eternal, as is my fidelity, which is stronger than death". On the cross Jesus realizes the Kingdom that He had announced at the beginning. He is the poor King, hungry, weeping, hated, banned, insulted and rejected as wicked, He loves His enemies, does them good, blesses them, intercedes for them, resists evil by bringing it, is willing to suffer more in order not to return it, and gives others the salvation that everyone would like for himself. This His kingship reveals the Grace and Mercy of God: is the Son equal to the Father, who does not judge, not condemn, He forgives and gives His life for His brothers and sisters. Before being an example of the martyrs, Jesus Himself is a martyr, that is, a witness to Father's Love for all His children. Thus He opens up the Kingdom to us. His Cross of Just is the justification for all the unjust and salvation of the world. It is in fact the Revelation and closeness of a God who loves gratuitously and who in His Mercy becomes near to the sinful man. Every liberation Theology, in order not to fall into idolatry and produce other alienations, must confront to the Cross of Jesus. He rejects as temptations our expectations of Salvation, based on signs of strength and power. They would multiply that evil from which He wants to tear us away. "Save yourself" is the refrain repeated on Golgotha. It represents the supreme aspiration of man who, moved by the fear of death, tries to save himself from it at all costs, establishing the strategy of having, being in power and appearing. But this very anxiety for life generates selfishness, the true death of man as a child of God. From this comes every other evil and false way of understanding life and death. Jesus does not free us from death, but from the fear of it, which is poisoning all our lives. In fact "the sting of death is sin". Sin is essentially that lie that has taken away from us the knowledge of God as Love and that prevents us from accepting to be from Him and for Him. Right where we fear absolute loneliness - nothingness and damnation - we discover a God who offers us His solidarity and communion with Him, which is Life.
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 20 11 2016
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the crown of the liturgical year and this Holy Year of Mercy. The Gospel in fact presents the kingship of Jesus as the culmination of his saving work, and it does so in a surprising way. “The Christ of God, the Chosen One, the King” (Lk 23:35,37) appears without power or glory: He is on the cross, where He seems more to be conquered than conqueror. His kingship is paradoxical: His throne is the cross; His crown is made of thorns; He has no sceptre, but a reed is put into His hand; He does not have luxurious clothing, but is stripped of His tunic; He wears no shiny rings on His fingers, but His hands are pierced with nails; He has no treasure, but is sold for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus’ reign is truly not of this world ( Jn 18:36); but for this reason, Saint Paul tells us in the Second Reading, we find redemption and forgiveness (Col 1:13-14). For the grandeur of His kingdom is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things. Christ lowered Himself to us out of this love, He lived our human misery, He suffered the lowest point of our human condition: injustice, betrayal, abandonment; He experienced death, the tomb, hell. And so our King went to the ends of the universe in order to embrace and save every living being. He did not condemn us, nor did He conquer us, and He never disregarded our freedom, but He paved the way with a humble love that forgives all things, hopes all things, sustains all things ( 1 Cor 13:7). This love alone overcame and continues to overcome our worst enemies: sin, death, fear.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we proclaim this singular victory, by which Jesus became the King of every age, the Lord of history: with the sole power of love, which is the nature of God, his very life, and which has no end ( 1 Cor 13:8). We joyfully share the splendour of having Jesus as our King: His rule of love transforms sin into grace, death into resurrection, fear into trust.
It would mean very little, however, if we believed Jesus was King of the universe, but did not make Him Lord of our lives: all this is empty if we do not personally accept Jesus and if we do not also accept his way of being King. The people presented to us in today’s Gospel, however, help us. In addition to Jesus, three figures appear: the people who are looking on, those near the cross, and the criminal crucified next to Jesus.
-->First, the people: the Gospel says that “the people stood by, watching” (Lk 23:35): no one says a word, no one draws any closer. The people keep their distance, just to see what is happening. They are the same people who were pressing in on Jesus when they needed something, and who now keep their distance. Given the circumstances of our lives and our unfulfilled expectations, we too can be tempted to keep our distance from Jesus’ kingship, to not accept completely the scandal of His humble love, which unsettles and disturbs us. We prefer to remain at the window, to stand apart, rather than draw near and be with Him. A people who are holy, however, who have Jesus as their King, are called to follow His way of tangible love; they are called to ask themselves, each one each day: “What does love ask of me, where is it urging me to go? What answer am I giving Jesus with my life?” There is a second group, which includes various individuals: the leaders of the people, the soldiers and a criminal. They all mock Jesus. They provoke him in the same way: “Save yourself!” (Lk 23:35,37,39). This temptation is worse than that of the people. They tempt Jesus, just as the devil did at the beginning of the Gospel ( Lk 4:1-13), to give up reigning as God wills, and instead to reign according to the world’s ways: to come down from the cross and destroy his enemies! If he is God, let him show his power and superiority! This temptation is a direct attack on love: “save yourself” (vv. 37,39); not others, but yourself. Claim triumph for yourself with your power, with your glory, with your victory. It is the most terrible temptation, the first and the last of the Gospel. When confronted with this attack on his very way of being, Jesus does not speak, He does not react. He does not defend Himself, He does not try to convince them, He does not mount a defence of His kingship. He continues rather to love; He forgives, He lives this moment of trial according to the Father’s will, certain that love will bear fruit.
In order to receive the kingship of Jesus, we are called to struggle against this temptation, called to fix our gaze on the Crucified One, to become ever more faithful to him. How many times, even among ourselves, do we seek out the comforts and certainties offered by the world. How many times are we tempted to come down from the Cross. The lure of power and success seem an easy, quick way to spread the Gospel; we soon forget how the Kingdom of God works. This Year of Mercy invites us to rediscover the core, to return to what is essential. This time of mercy calls us to look to the true face of our King, the One that shines out at Easter, and to rediscover the youthful, beautiful face of the Church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission. Mercy, which takes us to the heart of the Gospel, urges us to give up habits and practices which may be obstacles to serving the Kingdom of God; mercy urges us to orient ourselves only in the perennial and humble kingship of Jesus, not in submission to the precarious regalities and changing powers of every age.
In the Gospel another person appears, closer to Jesus, the thief who begs Him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42). This person, simply looking at Jesus, believed in His kingdom. He was not closed in on himself, but rather – with his errors, his sins and his troubles – he turned to Jesus. He asked to be remembered, and he experienced God’s mercy: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). As soon as we give God the chance, He remembers us. He is ready to completely and forever cancel our sindifferences, opening every possible pathway of hope. As God believes in us, infinitely beyond any merits we have, so too we are called to instil hope and provide opportunities to others. Because even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy which is the heart of Christ always remains open wide for us. From the lacerated side of the Risen One until the very end of time flow mercy, consolation and hope.
So many pilgrims have crossed the threshold of the Holy Doors, and far away from the clamour of the daily news they have tasted the great goodness of the Lord. We give thanks for this, as we recall how we have received mercy in order to be merciful, in order that we too may become instruments of mercy. Let us go forward on this road together. May our Blessed Lady accompany us, She who was also close to the Cross, she who gave birth to us there as the tender Mother of the Church, who desires to gather all under Her mantle. Beneath the Cross, She saw the good thief receive pardon, and she took Jesus’ disciple as her son. She is Mother of Mercy, to whom we entrust ourselves: every situation we are in, every prayer we make, when lifted up to his merciful eyes, will find an answer.
Reading 1
RispondiElimina2 Sm 5:1-3
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
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.
Reading 2
Col 1:12-20
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.
Alleluia
Mk 11:9, 10
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.
Gospel
Lk 23:35-43
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."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
RispondiEliminaLet us look to Jesus on the cross and realize that we have never been looked upon with a more gentle and compassionate gaze. Let us look to Jesus on the cross and understand that we have never received a more loving embrace. Let us look to the crucified Lord and say: “Thank you, Jesus: you love me and always forgive me, even at those times when I find it hard to love and forgive myself”.
FAUSTI - The text presents the Royalty of Jesus, Principle of Salvation. From the high of the Cross, His throne, the Lord makes God's judgment on the enemies: He forgives and gives the Kingdom to the evildoers.
RispondiEliminaHere we understand well in what sense Jesus is King and what salvation He brings. He is a king who exercises His freedom in serving: His only power is loving to the point of death.
His salvation is not what man expects.
It is that of a God who makes himself be condemned to the same punishment as us, in order to be with us.
"You will be with me, for I, the Emmanuel, am with you. You have not been with me, you have fled far away. And I have come so far here, on the Cross.
I want to be with you, so that you can be with me. I came with you on the cross, that you might return with me to the Kingdom. Our covenant is new and eternal, as is my fidelity, which is stronger than death".
On the cross Jesus realizes the Kingdom that He had announced at the beginning.
He is the poor King, hungry, weeping, hated, banned, insulted and rejected as wicked,
He loves His enemies, does them good, blesses them, intercedes for them, resists evil by bringing it, is willing to suffer more in order not to return it, and gives others the salvation that everyone would like for himself.
This His kingship reveals the Grace and Mercy of God:
is the Son equal to the Father, who does not judge, not condemn, He forgives and gives His life for His brothers and sisters.
Before being an example of the martyrs, Jesus Himself is a martyr, that is, a witness to Father's Love for all His children. Thus He opens up the Kingdom to us.
His Cross of Just is the justification for all the unjust and salvation of the world.
It is in fact the Revelation and closeness of a God who loves gratuitously and who in His Mercy becomes near to the sinful man.
Every liberation Theology, in order not to fall into idolatry and produce other alienations, must confront to the Cross of Jesus. He rejects as temptations our expectations of Salvation, based on signs of strength and power. They would multiply that evil from which He wants to tear us away.
"Save yourself" is the refrain repeated on Golgotha. It represents the supreme aspiration of man who, moved by the fear of death, tries to save himself from it at all costs, establishing the strategy of having, being in power and appearing.
But this very anxiety for life generates selfishness, the true death of man as a child of God.
From this comes every other evil and false way of understanding life and death.
Jesus does not free us from death, but from the fear of it, which is poisoning all our lives.
In fact "the sting of death is sin". Sin is essentially that lie that has taken away from us the knowledge of God as Love and that prevents us from accepting to be from Him and for Him.
Right where we fear absolute loneliness - nothingness and damnation - we discover a God who offers us His solidarity and communion with Him, which is Life.
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
RispondiEliminaSolemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 20 11 2016
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the crown of the liturgical year and this Holy Year of Mercy. The Gospel in fact presents the kingship of Jesus as the culmination of his saving work, and it does so in a surprising way. “The Christ of God, the Chosen One, the King” (Lk 23:35,37) appears without power or glory: He is on the cross, where He seems more to be conquered than conqueror. His kingship is paradoxical: His throne is the cross; His crown is made of thorns; He has no sceptre, but a reed is put into His hand; He does not have luxurious clothing, but is stripped of His tunic; He wears no shiny rings on His fingers, but His hands are pierced with nails; He has no treasure, but is sold for thirty pieces of silver.
Jesus’ reign is truly not of this world ( Jn 18:36); but for this reason, Saint Paul tells us in the Second Reading, we find redemption and forgiveness (Col 1:13-14). For the grandeur of His kingdom is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things. Christ lowered Himself to us out of this love, He lived our human misery, He suffered the lowest point of our human condition: injustice, betrayal, abandonment; He experienced death, the tomb, hell. And so our King went to the ends of the universe in order to embrace and save every living being. He did not condemn us, nor did He conquer us, and He never disregarded our freedom, but He paved the way with a humble love that forgives all things, hopes all things, sustains all things ( 1 Cor 13:7). This love alone overcame and continues to overcome our worst enemies: sin, death, fear.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we proclaim this singular victory, by which Jesus became the King of every age, the Lord of history: with the sole power of love, which is the nature of God, his very life, and which has no end ( 1 Cor 13:8). We joyfully share the splendour of having Jesus as our King: His rule of love transforms sin into grace, death into resurrection, fear into trust.
It would mean very little, however, if we believed Jesus was King of the universe, but did not make Him Lord of our lives: all this is empty if we do not personally accept Jesus and if we do not also accept his way of being King. The people presented to us in today’s Gospel, however, help us. In addition to Jesus, three figures appear: the people who are looking on, those near the cross, and the criminal crucified next to Jesus.
-->First, the people: the Gospel says that “the people stood by, watching” (Lk 23:35): no one says a word, no one draws any closer. The people keep their distance, just to see what is happening. They are the same people who were pressing in on Jesus when they needed something, and who now keep their distance. Given the circumstances of our lives and our unfulfilled expectations, we too can be tempted to keep our distance from Jesus’ kingship, to not accept completely the scandal of His humble love, which unsettles and disturbs us. We prefer to remain at the window, to stand apart, rather than draw near and be with Him. A people who are holy, however, who have Jesus as their King, are called to follow His way of tangible love; they are called to ask themselves, each one each day: “What does love ask of me, where is it urging me to go? What answer am I giving Jesus with my life?”
RispondiEliminaThere is a second group, which includes various individuals: the leaders of the people, the soldiers and a criminal. They all mock Jesus. They provoke him in the same way: “Save yourself!” (Lk 23:35,37,39). This temptation is worse than that of the people. They tempt Jesus, just as the devil did at the beginning of the Gospel ( Lk 4:1-13), to give up reigning as God wills, and instead to reign according to the world’s ways: to come down from the cross and destroy his enemies! If he is God, let him show his power and superiority! This temptation is a direct attack on love: “save yourself” (vv. 37,39); not others, but yourself. Claim triumph for yourself with your power, with your glory, with your victory. It is the most terrible temptation, the first and the last of the Gospel. When confronted with this attack on his very way of being, Jesus does not speak, He does not react. He does not defend Himself, He does not try to convince them, He does not mount a defence of His kingship. He continues rather to love; He forgives, He lives this moment of trial according to the Father’s will, certain that love will bear fruit.
In order to receive the kingship of Jesus, we are called to struggle against this temptation, called to fix our gaze on the Crucified One, to become ever more faithful to him. How many times, even among ourselves, do we seek out the comforts and certainties offered by the world. How many times are we tempted to come down from the Cross. The lure of power and success seem an easy, quick way to spread the Gospel; we soon forget how the Kingdom of God works. This Year of Mercy invites us to rediscover the core, to return to what is essential. This time of mercy calls us to look to the true face of our King, the One that shines out at Easter, and to rediscover the youthful, beautiful face of the Church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission. Mercy, which takes us to the heart of the Gospel, urges us to give up habits and practices which may be obstacles to serving the Kingdom of God; mercy urges us to orient ourselves only in the perennial and humble kingship of Jesus, not in submission to the precarious regalities and changing powers of every age.
In the Gospel another person appears, closer to Jesus, the thief who begs Him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42). This person, simply looking at Jesus, believed in His kingdom. He was not closed in on himself, but rather – with his errors, his sins and his troubles – he turned to Jesus. He asked to be remembered, and he experienced God’s mercy: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). As soon as we give God the chance, He remembers us. He is ready to completely and forever cancel our sindifferences, opening every possible pathway of hope. As God believes in us, infinitely beyond any merits we have, so too we are called to instil hope and provide opportunities to others. Because even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy which is the heart of Christ always remains open wide for us. From the lacerated side of the Risen One until the very end of time flow mercy, consolation and hope.
RispondiEliminaSo many pilgrims have crossed the threshold of the Holy Doors, and far away from the clamour of the daily news they have tasted the great goodness of the Lord. We give thanks for this, as we recall how we have received mercy in order to be merciful, in order that we too may become instruments of mercy. Let us go forward on this road together. May our Blessed Lady accompany us, She who was also close to the Cross, she who gave birth to us there as the tender Mother of the Church, who desires to gather all under Her mantle. Beneath the Cross, She saw the good thief receive pardon, and she took Jesus’ disciple as her son. She is Mother of Mercy, to whom we entrust ourselves: every situation we are in, every prayer we make, when lifted up to his merciful eyes, will find an answer.