This feast brings us to the end of the liturgical Cycle C and we see the King of kings, the Christ of God—the Chosen one, hanging on a cross—dying at the mercy of leaders, soldiers and even rejected by a criminal thief.

They all have one voice—one message “Save yourself!” Prove that you are indeed the King and Messiah. After all you have saved others.

But this is where they show quite clearly their lack of understanding of the kingship of Jesus Christ—the Messiah.

For them and for the world, kingship means power—power over others. It means putting yourself first—all bow down before you.

However, the kingship of Jesus Christ is one of selfless love--- of losing yourself in order to find yourself--- in order to live in God’s love

He seems so vulnerable—so powerless as he hangs on the cross. But it is in that vulnerability-- that powerlessness that true strength lies.

As Christians, the biggest struggle we have with ourselves is our selfishness. Our biggest sin is our selfishness. Selfishness destroys the very fabric of our society and our world for we are all concerned with saving ourselves.

All around us in Trinidad and Tobago, on television, radio, print media, our schools, workplace, sporting events, our homes our streets--there is one message---Save yourself----if you are the Christ the chosen one—if you are in a position of authority and power, show your power and save yourself.

Some years ago I was given a poster with words of wisdom from Cardinal Suenens. It read---“Happy is the one who dream dreams and is willing to pay the price to see them come true.”

I have come to see that because of our self-centredness—our selfishness-- we are responsible for destroying the very dreams of our hearts--our desires for happiness, for peace, for justice, for loving relationships.

The Christian message is --Save others—lay down your life for others.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground
It still remains but a grain of wheat
But if it falls and dies then it bears much fruit,
So it is with those who lose themselves in me

The repentant thief got the message. He recognised the injustice of the situation—they were the real criminals and Jesus the innocent one would suffer the same fate.

But this was the very reason that he came---to lay down his life for others –to be their source of salvation. Therefore, today the repentant thief is with him in paradise and the invitation is here for all of us to follow.

I remember some years ago as I walked this spiritual journey, how afraid I was to sing this song because I was afraid to lose myself.  I was struggling with my identity—who I am.

Now I know the truth-- that it is in losing ourselves that we find ourselves—in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Jesus Christ is the King of kings, the Christ of God the chosen one. He hangs upon the cross—naked, vulnerable, stripped, because he loves us and is willing to pay the price for our salvation—his very life.

Can we love him in return? Can we become the grain of wheat that falls into the ground to bear much fruit?

Lord, we thank you that you came into this world and embraced suffering and death on the cross because you love us.

We thank you for those saints who have also laid down their lives for others. We thank you especially for Maximilian Kolbe a priest incarcerated in the hell-like concentration camp at Auschwitz. 

He was not afraid to offer his life in exchange for the life of a married man with a wife and children, Francis Gajowniczek who begged for mercy.

We ask your forgiveness for our fear of laying down our lives so that others may live.
We pray for repentant hearts, for our selfishness and especially for the selfishness displayed in our country.

Forgive us Lord, for the lawlessness and crime, and the many horrible acts of violence against women and children.

We pray that our lives might bear witness to others as we seek not to save ourselves but to be a source of conversion and salvation for those who are tempted to engage in criminal activity. We pray that through the witness of our lives, they too may yearn—like the repentant thief--- to be remembered when the Lord comes into His Kingdom.

Gospel Meditations for November are by Linda Wyke. An active member of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando, Linda, a mother and grandmother, is a former Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education.