The Feast of Christ the King | Sunday 20 November 2022

Today is Sunday the 20th of November, the feast of Christ the King.

The University of Johannesburg Choir sing Ndisondela Kuwe, I come to you in prayer, almighty God. You are worthy to be praised. On this feast of Christ the King can I come before Christ in prayer and praise Him?

Ndisondela kuwe (Ndisondela kuwe)
Thixo (Ndiza ndithandaza)
Thixo (Thixo uyingcwele)
Ufanelwe ufanelwe nal'udumo
Ndisondela kuwe (Ndisondela kuwe)
Thixo (Ndiza ndithandaza)
Thixo (Thixo uyingcwele)
Ufanelwe ufanelwe nal'udumo
Amen amen amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen amen amen amen haleluya
Amen amen amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen (Amen amen amen)
Amen amen amen amen haleluya
Ndisondela kuwe (Ndisondela kuwe)
Thixo (Ndiza ndithandaza)
Thixo (Thixo uyingcwele)
Ufanelwe ufanelwe nal'udumo

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 23:35-43


And the people stood by, watching; 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.’

On this feast of Christ the King we contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus as King of the Jews. This is a moment of plain speaking, for the leaders, the soldiers, the two thieves and Jesus himself. No one holds back. How do you feel as you hear them speak? What strikes you about the words Jesus says?

Focus particularly on the conversation between Jesus and the repentant thief. The man is dying but asks Jesus to remember him. What would you want to say to Jesus in your last moments? How would you feel if you heard him respond to you as Jesus does to the thief?

As we hear the reading repeated, are there any words or images that strike you particularly? Take time just to stay with them and let them go deeper.

After the second time of reading we have a chance to respond from the heart. What is in your heart right now? What do you find yourself wanting to say?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.