Daily Readings - Sun Nov 20 2022

¹Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh.²In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'"³So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Colossians

Chapter 1

¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.¹³He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Luke

Chapter 23

³⁵And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine³⁷and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"³⁸There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."⁴²And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."⁴³And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through themes of leadership, redemption, and divine kingship, each offering profound insights into God's plan and our place within it. The first reading from 2 Samuel recounts David's anointing as king over Israel, highlighting his earthly leadership and the covenant made with his people. This narrative underscores the importance of recognizing and embracing God's chosen leaders, reflecting a community united under divine guidance. The second reading from Colossians elevates our gaze to the divine, portraying Jesus as the firstborn of all creation and the head of the Church. It emphasizes Jesus' role in creation and redemption, illustrating His supremacy over all things visible and invisible. This passage invites us to contemplate the cosmic significance of Christ's mission and our participation in His redemptive work. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus on the cross, mocked by leaders yet acknowledged by a repentant thief. This scene contrasts earthly skepticism with humble faith, as the thief recognizes Jesus' kingship even in His suffering. Jesus' promise of Paradise to the thief exemplifies His mercy and the assurance of salvation to those who trust in Him. These readings intertwine to reveal the nature of true kingship and leadership. David's earthly reign prefigures Christ's divine kingship, while the thief's faith exemplifies the humility and trust required to recognize God's plan. In our lives, we are called to lead with humility, trusting in God's providence, and to seek redemption through faith in Jesus, our true King. As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the call to trust in God's plan, recognizing His presence in our lives. May we lead with humility and seek redemption through faith, remembering that true kingship is not about power but about serving and loving as Christ did. In doing so, we find our place within God's grand narrative of salvation.