Preparation for Sunday mass: Luke 23:35-43

We present here the text that will be read at Sunday mass, the fourth Sunday of the Great Advent, Christ the King (see here for the Great Advent) (Sunday of Christ the King), and we formulate some questions that might help us prepare to hear the reading.

35 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!"

36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"

40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Questions for adults:

- In what sense is Jesus king?

- Where is Jesus’ kingdom?

- What is the difference between the two criminals in their view of Jesus?

Questions for kids:

- What is a king?

- Is Jesus a king and why?

- The good criminal mentions Jesus’ kingdom. Where is it?