Sunday Worship
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Welcome to our Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish. This week we will all be at St Hugh's School to celebrate St Hugh's Day with staff, children and families alongside members of the congregations of St Thomas' and St Agnes' Churches. This will be the only service in the parish today, and all are welcome to join us.
If you are unable to be with us in person, today's Gospel, a reflection and prayers are shown below.
Today's first hymn is "Meekness and Majesty"
Today's Gospel
Luke 23:33-43
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reflection
This week is the last week of the church’s liturgical year before we head into the season of Advent. It is appropriate that at the end of the church’s year we focus on the supreme authority of Christ, through whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. Who was crucified, died and rose again to redeem us all.
As we celebrate the solemnity of Christ The King we see in the Gospel passage from Luke, the unbounded love, compassion and mercy that Jesus showed as he made the eternal sacrifice on our behalf. We see Him ridiculed by the Jews and mocked by one of the criminals. Yet the other thief is contrite and admits his sins, and he defends Jesus and the injustice of his sentence. He is truly sorry for his own actions, and moreover the unjust way the Jews have treated Jesus.
In his heart the second thief believes in Jesus and His kingdom. He is conscious of his own sins and truly repents, but asks nothing more of Jesus than that He remembers him. But Jesus, promises the thief much more than what he asks for, when he says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." As St. Ambrose commented, “The Lord always grants more than one asks”.
At first, it might seem strange that the Gospel passage for this day of the feast of Christ the King is centred on His crucifixion. But if we take moment to think about it, it is absolutely right. His royalty is totally different from what we might percive in our terms. It is not one of lavish richness but one of humilty and service. His crown is not one of extravagant jewels and gold but one of thorns. Yet at the moment of his sacrifice, his royalty is solemnly manifest as he triumphs on the cross.
We are all sinners, but if we, like the second criminal, show genuine contrition and humility, then we too can enjoy the mercy of Jesus, who wants to reign as King in all our hearts.
Jesus longs to reign in this world, and we can help make that happen through our actions, desires and prayers. The Kingdom of God is here and now in every action that we do with love when we are centred in Jesus’ teachings. When we treat one another with respect and tolerance, when we give to charity, feed the poor and shelter the homeless.
Christ The King reigns through us and his Kingdom here on earth is filled with hope here in the present, every time we hold him in our hearts and love one another. Yet, that is but a foretaste of His kingdom to come, when we will see Him reign in majesty on His throne in heaven. Paul
Our Prayers
