On this last Sunday of the Church’s year we praise and honour Jesus as King and Lord of the universe. Our Gospel might come as a surprise – Jesus’ crucifixion – but it is in these final moments of his earthly life that we see everything about Jesus which makes him our king.

Jesus’ ‘kingship’ is not one of power but of service. He did not sit on a mighty throne but hung from a cross; he did not wear a bejewelled crown but a crown of thorns; his was not a dazzling, majestic presence but instead an appalling sight, despised and rejected; he had no army at his command nor servants in attendance, but instead he came to serve and to offer his life as a ransom for all. Earthly kings have often lived privileged lives far removed from “commoners” – Jesus, in contrast, lived among them and died between two of the lowliest of them - condemned criminals. His redeeming work was for billions of people, yet his immediate focus was on the individual, the one. That one, the repentant thief, he promised a place in paradise that very day. The kingships of this world have often shown an immense love of power – the kingship of Jesus was built on the immense power of love.

So we honour Jesus by making a commitment to imitate him in all things: to a life of humility and service, to working for a world of justice for all, a world where violence, prejudice and intolerance are exposed & rejected; a world in which there is a fair sharing of resources and opportunities; a world where the essential dignity and value of every human life at every stage and every state is cherished. It means working for a society in which the often forgotten values of tenderness, mercy & compassion are lived & proclaimed. All of this Jesus models so perfectly for us on the cross. Today, we simply give him thanks & praise for being our King and Saviour. We love you, Lord – help us to serve you and live for you as you lived and died for us.


With blessings & prayers, Fr Richard, Fr Ephrem & the parish team.
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