Three criminals on a hill: Which one are you?

There is a difference between the leader you ask for and the one you get. In the history of salvation, the people of God have consistently adopted a pattern of calling for a chosen one, someone to fight their battles, lead them against adversaries and build up their own renown in the eyes of great powers that surround Israel. The historical consequences of that call appear in this Sunday’s readings. They reflect that famous verse from the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well you just might find, you get what you need.” 

On the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the biblical readings present two characters, David and Jesus, both “chosen ones.” In this Sunday’s first reading, the election of David to replace Saul as “shepherd of Israel” transforms the history of God’s people. “King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel” (2 Sm 5:3). Words like “election” and “agreement” do not capture the tone of these ancient realities in which the divine and political could not be so easily separated. What happened to David at Hebron was a deepening of the covenant, the ancient bond with the Lord sealed anew through David’s sacred anointing. 

Divine and human election are key to biblical images of a “chosen one.” In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, David’s descendant, a second and greater “chosen one,” challenges our expectations of the role of such a leader. The first thing the reader might notice in the passage from Luke is the repeated slander and mockery of Jesus while he hung on the cross. The elected leaders “sneered,” while soldiers “jeered” and one of the criminals next to Jesus “reviled” him. Luke heightens the tension of this crucifixion scene to an extreme, with all parties accusing Jesus of fraud, “Let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God” (Lk 23:35). This is quite the opposite of human election, but in spite of opposition and apparent failure, Jesus remained God’s chosen one. Such a scene brings to mind Ps 2:4-6, in which God laughs at any who try to resist or destroy the anointed one. “The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord derides them; I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain” (Ps 2:4-6). Luke depicted God’s anointed one as someone surrounded by mockery and skepticism on the cross. How can this be the anointed one, the hero like David?

Not all reject Jesus, however. The good criminal recognizes Jesus’ role as his shepherd. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42). The good thief’s recognition reveals the truth of Jesus’ anointing and invites readers to reflect on their own acknowledgement of Jesus as the chosen one. Jesus’s kingship is clearest when humble and lowly would-be disciples recognize it. In the aftermath of the good thief’s recognition, Jesus responded, “Today you will be with me” (Lk 23:43). Perhaps God does not give us the hero we want, but we do receive the one we need. Jesus is our king because he dove fully into human experience. He leads us not in spite of it, but through it. 

This Sunday marks the end of Year C and the end of my time as a columnist for “The Word” at America. The next columnist, Professor Gina Hens-Piazza, will continue a powerful tradition of opening the Scriptures to a wide range of readership beginning with Advent. I want to acknowledge all the readers who have spent time with these reflections over the course of past three years. May we each continue to draw on God’s Anointed One through life, prayer and Scripture. 

Thank you!