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“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.”
Luke 22:42–43
What powerful words these were. As Jesus hung dying on the Cross
for the salvation of the world, He hung between two thieves. These
thieves represent all of us. One of them wanted Jesus to save His
earthly life by coming down from the Cross and saving him at the
same time. The other thief made a prayer for eternal life, asking
Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered His Kingdom. To the
latter, Jesus granted his request.
Oftentimes we pray for earthly goods and pay little attention to
eternal ones. Today, as we celebrate the last Sunday of the
liturgical year, we celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King
of the Universe. On this day, we are invited to pray this prayer
with the good thief, acknowledging that we are sinners deserving
death, but hoping and praying for mercy and a share in the Eternal
Kingdom of God.
Nothing makes the soul of our Lord more joyful than saving His
children. He endured suffering and death out of love. He knew that
His death would destroy our death if we cling to Him in hope. On
the Cross, Jesus’ gaze was on eternal, not earthly, redemption. He
beheld the glorious throne that He mounted. It began with a cross
but would end with glory, power and splendor beyond
imagination.
As we honor Jesus as the great and glorious King of the Universe,
we are encouraged to invite Him to establish His kingship in our
lives more fully. Though Jesus’ permanent, lasting and visible
Kingdom will be established only in the future when He returns at
the end of time, His Kingdom must begin now.
The Kingdom of God is established here and now every time you allow
Him to exercise His kingship in your life. As a King, Jesus desires
to order your life. He demands perfect submission of your will to
Him. He demands complete obedience. And He demands that you embrace
this kingship of His freely, of your own choosing. These are
demands of perfect love that bring about a sharing in His eternal
Kingdom. How well do you do this?
Throughout our world, there are many forms of governments.
Democracies are thought by many to be the best form of government
because no one person is capable of being the perfect king.
Therefore a democracy is more of a safeguard against tyranny and
abusive leadership. But when it comes to the end of time, the
governance of humanity will take place by a King—the King of Kings
and Lord of Lords. He is the only one Who is capable of governing
humanity with justice and love. He is the only one under Whose
leadership we will all flourish. He is the only one Who will be
able to establish universal peace and harmony.
Reflect, today, upon the glorious end of the world when our Lord
Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, will return in splendor and
majesty to judge the living and the dead and to establish His
permanent and unending Kingdom. Though we are not able to
comprehend what this Kingdom will be at this time, we must believe
in it with faith and have supernatural hope that we will share in
it. Reflect, especially, upon your mission to allow that Kingdom of
grace and mercy to begin now, within the depths of your own soul.
Surrender all to Him. Invite Him to reign over your thoughts, will,
body and soul. Do not hesitate. Trust in this one and only glorious
King Who is worthy of our total obedience.
My Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, You and You alone
are worthy of our total trust and surrender in all things. I do
choose You as my King today. I join with the good thief and come to
You with all my sin, praying that You will remember me when You
come into Your glorious Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
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