Daily Readings - Sun Nov 24 2019

¹And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh²Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’ ³Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel

Colossians

Chapter 1

¹²giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to have a share in the portion of the saints, in the light¹³For he has rescued us from the power of darkness, and he has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love¹⁴in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature¹⁶For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him¹⁷And he is before all, and in him all things continue¹⁸And he is the head of his body, the Church. He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that in all things he may hold primacy¹⁹For the Father is well-pleased that all fullness reside in him²⁰and that, through him, all things be reconciled to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, for the things that are on earth, as well as the things that are in heaven

Luke

Chapter 23

³⁵And people were standing near, watching. And the leaders among them derided him, saying: "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this one is the Christ, the elect of God.³⁶And the soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him and offering him vinegar³⁷and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.³⁸Now there was also an inscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS³⁹And one of those robbers who were hanging blasphemed him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.⁴⁰But the other responded by rebuking him, saying: "Do you have no fear of God, since you are under the same condemnation⁴¹And indeed, it is just for us. For we are receiving what our deeds deserve. But truly, this one has done nothing wrong.⁴²And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.⁴³And Jesus said to him, "Amen I say to you, this day you shall be with me in Paradise.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of kingship, leadership, and redemption. In the first reading from 2 Samuel, David is anointed king of Israel, marking the beginning of his earthly reign. This passage emphasizes God’s choice of David as a shepherd for His people, highlighting the divine origin of his authority. The second reading from Colossians shifts our gaze to the eternal kingship of Christ, who is the firstborn of all creation and the head of the Church. Here, we see that Jesus’ reign is not limited to a earthly kingdom but encompasses all creation, reconciling all things through His sacrifice. The Gospel from Luke brings us to the cross, where Jesus, mocked as the “King of the Jews,” reveals the true nature of His kingship through forgiveness and mercy. Even in His suffering, Jesus extends the promise of paradise to the repentant thief, showing that His kingdom is one of grace and redemption. These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the nature of true leadership and authority. David’s anointing as king prefigures the ultimate King, Jesus Christ, who reigns not through power or domination but through love and self-giving. The Colossians passage reminds us that Jesus is the source and sustainer of all creation, and His kingship is rooted in His redemptive work. The Gospel scene on Calvary shows us that Jesus’ kingship is paradoxically revealed in His vulnerability and mercy. Together, these readings call us to reevaluate our understanding of leadership and power, inviting us to embrace a way of life shaped by humility, forgiveness, and trust in God’s plan. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded that true greatness is found in serving others and imitating Christ’s self-giving love. Like David, we are called to lead with integrity and compassion, recognizing that our authority comes from God. Like the repentant thief, we are invited to turn to Jesus in faith, trusting in His promise of eternal life. In a world often dominated by power struggles and self-interest, these readings challenge us to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, where love, mercy, and humility reign supreme. May we strive to follow Christ, the King who rules with an outstretched arm and an open heart, and may we find our true home in the paradise He promises.