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Lectio divina on Luke 23.35-43

Our Lord Christ the King
XXXIV Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Lectio divina on Luke 23.35-43

Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom

Invoking
O God the Father, who have called us to reign with you in justice and love, deliver us from the power of darkness is' we walk in the footsteps of your Son, and as we give him our life of love for others, sure to share his glory in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read
At that time, [when they had crucified Jesus,] 35il people stayed there watching, but the rulers mocked Jesus, saying, "He saved others! Save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One. "
36Anche the soldiers mocked him, they drew near to offer the 37th said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 38Sopra him was an inscription: "He is the king of the Jews."
39Uno of the criminals hanging there abused him: "Are not you the Christ?
Save yourself and us. " 40L'altro instead reprimanded him saying: "Do you not fear God, you who are condemned to the same punishment? 41Noi, rightly so, since we get what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. " 42E said: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43Gli replied: "Verily I say unto you today you will be with me in Paradise."

A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.

useful steps to meditation
17.6 Gb; Sap 5.4, 2.2 Ps, 35.16, 68.22, Is 42.1, 49.7, Germany 20.7; Mt 8 8, 11.28 to 29, 16.28; 27,4.37.43.44.51; 15,26.29-31-32 Mk, Jn 1.29, 3.16, 6.38 to 39, 10,11.18; 1 Corinthians 2 , 14; Ez 33.10 to 11, Ephesians 2:3; Over 1.19 to 20, 1 Peter 2:4; 3.18, 1 John 4.9-10, Rev. 4.9 to 10.

Understanding
XXXIV This Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King, the liturgy makes us reflect on the passion of the Lord.
Luke says in his account of the last moments of earthly life of Jesus using several times the words save and salvation in this from happening, he wants to tell us that Christ is King of our lives and our history.
His kingship is manifested in a manner contrary to human kingship: the kingship of Jesus is service for the salvation of the people, even to giving himself more time in the bloody end of his life.
In his "new manger" Jesus is also crucified two robbers, one of which is associated with those who wanted it, and the other his faith in Christ. This faith is rewarded by the promise of Jesus is allowed to participate in the divine life.

Meditation
v. 35: the people were to see, but the rulers mocked Jesus, saying, "He saved others! Save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One. " We are at Calvary, a place of death and tears. This place right now has been transformed into a "stage". In fact, we see who is and who to laugh at.
In the eyes of a thousand, because, in mockery of the leaders in Somehow those who say Jesus the Christ of God, the Chosen One. Without meaning to describe the kingship of Jesus Christ
The temptation for Jesus is always strong and renewed again in this bloody moment. The people, the soldiers, one of the criminals who call on Jesus to save himself saw his divine origin.
Behind these words is a purely human reasoning, a refuge to save themselves. But Jesus came not to save himself (cf. Mt 5:17).
This temptation is the temptation for all of us, because we try to escape, to wash our hands: we want to survive! But the man of the Cross is telling us the opposite. His salvation is to give their lives. Jesus at this time does nothing but give his life.
Save yourself and the lives of others, is not a Christian!
vv. 36-37: The soldiers also mocked him, drew near to offer him and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." seems that all mock Jesus, even the soldiers of the religious right are dry. However, even they repeat themselves in some way the human anxiety.
soldiers present to Jesus vinegar thirsty, as if to recall the words of the Psalmist: "In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Ps 69.22). This indicates which take the Scriptures, that what is to happen is an event of salvation, and not any one story to tell.
addition to Jesus suffers a fault, a title that's bothers, "King of the Jews." Title that has been cause for debate at his trial. But Jesus is King but not like a human, his kingship will be "a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (1 Cor 1:23). His kingship is to do the will of the Father and that is giving his life to save what was lost (Luke 19:10).
v. 38: Above him there was an inscription: "He is the king of the Jews." Her crime Jesus Bring It On, neck, like any criminal. A tablet continues to mock Jesus, however, bears a tablet getting a message to read, this message is the kingship of Christ is still seeking to not only read but to pose to us that we read, our eyes, our hearts on the heart of the Gospel: love.
Moreover, this tablet also becomes a delivery that Jesus says, 'Take my yoke upon you ... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light "(Mt 11.29-30).
Jesus is King offering his own life, his own yoke of scepters and does not need to reign, because his scepter is love for every person.
vv. 39-41: One of the criminals hanging there abused him: "Are not you the Christ? Save yourself and us. " But the other rebuked him, saying: "Do you not fear God, you who are condemned to the same punishment? addition to the Crucified are the two criminals who were hanged, but the conclusion is very different from the life of each of the two. Even Jesus had said: "That night, when two are in the same bed: one will be taken away and the other left" (17:34). There are two criminals crucified with him, but one only outwardly because it participates to the mockery of others and look for the escape route to save himself. His claim is a blasphemy is a continuous mocking God's saving plan then his reaction is sterile, lifeless, dead in itself.
The other villain, however, take the path of salvation because he shares the conviction of Jesus He is discerning and accepting what is happening, that welcomes and recognizes the divine mystery in the crucified Son of God
uphold the divine mystery, to be with Christ, to be next to him is nothing but the blame does not see the life he has before his eyes and continues to squander it. In other words, what the criminal made himself the voice of Christ, recognizing its responsibilities and helping each other to read the present moment as an opportunity for salvation: We, rightly, because we get what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. "
The conversion of this man is a sign that read the tablet around his neck and that in some way, even we ourselves have put around his neck. In a sign that we are visited by God Read Here is the meaning of his crucifixion, a crucifixion deserved for a wrong committed. But there is also the courage to confess their sins before Jesus, about which he thinks is convinced that innocent from the cross.
vv. 42-43: And he said: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He answered, "Truly I say to you today you'll be with me in Paradise. " In the Bible the remembrance of God and of man are interwoven and form a key component of the life of God's people
In the Old Testament, if someone prays in his difficulties, he raises his voice to God to remember the his saving work, his covenant (cf. Gen 9:15; Es 2:24; Ps 104.8, 110, 5). The thief does the same thing with Jesus at the foot of the throne of glory calls for a memorial in the kingdom of Christ. It is a beautiful prayer that is always renewed on the lips of those who have faith: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7.59). And every disciple who "call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).
The prayer of the thief is fulfilled by Jesus, not because he was good (Luke does not say) but because he was able to accept the salvation that at that moment was passing from the cross. In fact, "The foundation of God's mercy is revealed in the cross of Christ, who takes the place of many and die for them" (Alois Stöger).
Christ alone does not enter into his kingdom, brings the first of the saved. Humanity, the same court, same fate, same victory.
The repentant malefactor would be "with him," that is, with Jesus, which is heaven coveted by Paul: "I long to dissolve and be with Christ" (Phil. 1:23; cf. 1Tes 4.17).

The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
Every action of Christ is the glory of the Church, but the cross is the glory above all glory. He knew well that Paul said, I will glory of nothing except the cross of Christ (Gal 6.14). A blind person was able to regain his sight at the pool of Siloam, is certainly a wonderful fact. But how important is this one episode when you consider the blind around the world? Momentous event, beyond the power of nature, was the resurrection of Lazarus, dead for four days. But this favor granted to him alone, could perhaps benefit all those who died for your sins? What was remarkable feed five thousand men with five loaves. But what use could have for all the ignorant hungry for truth? The glory of the cross instead lit up all those who were blind ignorance, all of whom were freed slaves of sin, redeemed all mankind. Gloriamoci the cross of the Savior. The language of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who we are saved is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18) (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechesis 13.1-2).

Want to see another of his marvelous work? Today we opened paradise, which was closed for more than five years. In a day and at an hour like this, you brought a thief, and so did two things together, opened heaven ev'introdusse a thief. On this day has given us our true home, causing her to house the whole human race, as he says: "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). What do you say? You are crucified, nailed your hands and promise paradise? Sure, he says, because you can understand who they are, even on the cross. Why you do not stop and look at the cross and you could see who was crucified, they did wonders on the cross. While not raising a dead, or when he commands the winds and the sea, or when driving out demons, but while on the cross, nailed, ed'insulti spat upon, can change the mind of a thief, because you can discover its power. He has broken the rocks and drew the soul of a thief, the harder the stone and broke it honored, he says, "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." Yes, here were the Cherubim in custody of heaven, but here is the Lord of the Cherubim. Yes, there was a flaming sword, but he is the master of life and death. Yes, no king ever lead with him in town a thief or a servant. The Christ did, returning to his homeland, introduces you a thief, but no offense to paradise without spoiling with feet of a thief, adding even the honor is honor, in fact, have such a master of paradise that can also do a thief worthy of the joy of heaven. In fact, when he introduced tax collectors and prostitutes in the kingdom of heaven, this was not a disgrace, but great honor, because it shows that the owner of Paradise was so great a Lord, who could make the tax collectors and harlots as decent people, to deserve the 'honor of paradise. Indeed, as we admire most doctors, when we see him heal the most serious and incurable diseases, so it is right to see Jesus Christ when healing the wounds of heaven and is worthy collectors and meritrici. What on earth did this thief, you say, after the cross to deserve heaven? I'll tell you. While on the ground Peter denied him, he proclaimed the Lord above. I do not say, for charity, to accuse Peter, but I want to point out the generosity of the thief. The disciple could not support the threat of a servant, the thief of all the people around him and shouting and swearing, it does not took into account, did not stop the vile appearance of a crucifix, he overcame it all with the eyes of faith, recognized the King of heaven and the soul stretched before him said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23.42). Please do not underestimate this thief and have no shame to take to master the one whom the Lord was not ashamed to introduce, first of all, in paradise, we have no shame to take him to master that before all creation was considered worthy of the conversation is in heaven, but think carefully about everything, because we can penetrate the power of the cross. Christ said to him, like Peter, "Come, I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19), did not say, as the Twelve, "shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" ( Mt 19:28). In fact did not even worthy of a word, showed him a miracle, he saw a dead man raised, not expelled demons, not tamed the sea, yet he proclaimed before all the Lord and, while the other thief insulted him .. . Have you seen the confidence of the thief? His confidence on the cross? His philosophy in the torture and piety in torment? Who would not be surprised that, pierced by nails, was not out of mind? Instead not only kept his wits, but leave all his things, think of others and who became a teacher, he rebuked his companion: "Do you fear God?" (Luke 23.40). Do not think, he says, this court ground, there is another invisible judge and a court incorruptible. T'affannare not to have been convicted here, there is not the same thing. In this court the righteous and the wicked are condemned sometimes escape punishment, the guilty are acquitted and innocent are executed. The judges, like it or not, often fail, because of ignorance or deception or corruption may betray the truth. There is something else. God is a just judge and his trial will come out as light, not darkness and ignorance without ... See that big thing is this proclamation of the thief? He proclaimed Christ the Lord and heaven opened, and gained so much confidence, that a podium thief dared to ask a kingdom. See which goods of the cross is the source? Ask a kingdom? But what do you see that it makes you think? In front you have a cross and nails, but the cross, he says, is a symbol of the kingdom. I call upon the King, because I see the crucifix, it is the king die for his subjects. The same said: "The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep" (Jn 10:11). Thus, even a good king gave his life for his subjects. Since then gave his life, I call him the King "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (John Chrysostom, Hom . Cruce et de latronico , s. 2).

Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
what my attitude toward suffering? I'm seeing?
thrown away what has resulted from the Word of God for me and for others?
What kind of prayer do? Selfish or according to God's heart?
I accept the salvation that goes from my house, my life or reject ridiculed?
I also like Paul, like the thief "Bram dissolve and be with Christ"?

Praying
In the prison of Scheveningen, between 12 and 13 February 1942, p. Titus Brandsma, he composed a short poem inspired by the image of Christ on the cross. All poetic song expresses the acceptance of suffering that pleased God to unite

In front of 'image of Jesus
O Jesus,
when I look at you I feel revived.
I love you. Even
you love me,
like your best friend.
Your friendship brings me pain.
But all suffering is good for me. So
resembles you: I will come where you live.
In pain I feel happy.
not call him more pain but
happy occasion for you to be more united.
I embrace the silence, the damp, cold.
Leave me here.
Nobody visits me.
not bothering me the only star.
You, in fact, Jesus, you're with me: I never
you were so close.
Stay with me,
here beside me, sweet Jesus

Your presence is my peace.

contemplative act
Let us be enlightened by the strength that comes from the Cross, so that even the beat most hidden, imperceptible sigh, look more insignificant and the most trivial word, let us say in the lives of all day that the Christ the King and Lord of our life and our history.