First Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3

This story is the second anointing of David as king.  The first anointing was by the prophet Samuel, who was instructed by God to visit the family of Jesse and anoint the youngest son in 1 Samuel 16:13.  In this passage, the people acclaim and accept him as their king.  David was commissioned by the Lord.  God made him acceptable to “all the tribes” and several individuals in the story, including members of the family of Saul.  He was a person with moral flaws that would become evident in his governance of the people.

Hebron was in the south part of Israel.  It was associated with the burial place of the patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac.

Second Reading: Colossians 1:12-20

Paul emphasizes the totality of the universe under the control of the Son of God.  He repeats “all things” six times in this passage, plus “all creation” and “all the fullness.”  Earth and heaven are the places for everything that God had created.

The language of “delivered” and “redemption” recall the events of the Exodus, when God led the people out of slavery.  Here, the oppressor is “the power of darkness” and “sins.”

The “firstborn” is the one who inherits and carries the heritage of the family line.  There is a double role: “firstborn of all creation. . .firstborn from the dead.”  This firstborn stands at the at the beginning and end of everything.  But He is also present throughout the intervening time, too!  Jesus Christ, the “beloved Son,” is connected with creation and reconciliation.

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

These verses come from the Passion of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke.  Jesus is “sneered at. . .jeered at. . .reviled” by the rulers, soldiers and one of the criminals, who was hanging on the cross near Jesus.  To be mocked three times means that he was severely berated.  Crucifixion was the cruelest form of execution.  Roman citizens did not suffer this indignity, if they were sentenced to death for a crime.  The offering of wine may reflect the complaint of the speaker, who is beset by his enemies, in Psalm 69:22:  “For my thirst, they gave me vinegar [sour wine].”

All three groups that spoke to Jesus used the word “save” in a derogatory way.  However, they actually prophesied as to what Jesus was doing.  Indeed, His Hebrew name, Joshua, translates as “God saves.”  At the end of this passage, companionship with Jesus brings about salvation for one of the criminals.  Tradition has given him the name, Dismas.  The other criminal has been called, Gestas.

The two criminals represent the responses of those who have suffered.  One demanded salvation.  The other simply asked to be remembered, while acknowledging the innocence of Jesus and the inscription over Jesus as King of the Jews.  Despite the appearance on the Cross, the “good thief” was able to recognize that Jesus would “come into your kingdom.”  He confessed the distance between them – he was guilty of crimes, which merited death, while Jesus “has done nothing criminal.”  Jesus still promises that he would be “with me in Paradise.”  Paradise was the name given to the garden of Eden, when God created mankind in harmony with his surroundings.

There may be no official royalty in our social network in this country. But there are Princes of the Church. In my younger years, that is the title we gave to our Archbishop. When I was in high school seminary, my pastor died, and Archbishop Dearden came to celebrate the funeral Mass.  I was one of the servers for the Mass.  The secretary of the Archbishop ordered the servers not to talk to the Archbishop.  We were not to be in the same sacristy with him.  We had to wait in another room, until the Mass was ready to begin.

This was the same princely person, who came to visit my first pastorate, after he had retired as our Cardinal Archbishop, many years later.  He didn't come with a secretary, and he wanted no special ceremonies, which were attached to a pontifical Mass, the special Mass offered by bishops.  I met him at the doorway and escorted him to the room, which I had set aside for him to vest.  I was preparing to leave him there and make sure (again!) that everything was in perfect order in the Church.  He took hold of my sleeve.  He said: “Sit down with me.  You have people to take care of the preparations for Mass, don’t you?”  So, I sat down.  It was just me and one of the periti (theological “experts”) of the Second Vatican Council, who helped write one of the most important documents for the continuing formation of the Church today!  I will never forget that opportunity just to sit with him for a few minutes before the Mass was to begin.  I don’t remember what I said.  I just vividly remember being there.  I was humbled and honored at the same time.

At Mass, we are before and in the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Jesus was a new beginning in the relationship between God and mankind.  I don't remember when I first began to pray.  I do remember my mother teaching me to kneel down and offer prayers at bedside before going to sleep.  I was speaking to the same great Lord of the Old and New Testaments.  When I celebrate the Mass, I often feel humbled by that presumption to speak to Him on behalf of all those before me.  Yet we are all invited to be in His presence, without all the hustle and bustle of doing things -- just to be with Him, who created us, saved us and will judge us.  It leaves me with a feeling of being humbled and honored at the same time.  Awesome, isn't it?!

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven. *