The promise of the kingdom

On the cross, Christ the King promises his kingdom to a penitent thief. We, like the repentant criminal, receive redemption and forgiveness of our sins through Christ, who gives us the strength to bear all things
joyfully. If we suffer with him, we will reign with him. He is the firstborn from the dead, never to die again.

God of the living

In the midst of all the troubles of this life, God is at our side constantly strengthening us through Jesus Christ. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and so are called as children of God to the hope of eternal life. Our God is not God of the dead but of the living.

Today salvation has come to this house

The Lord is the lover of life and his imperishable Spirit is in all things. He overlooks our sins so that we can repent. God’s love reaches its
fulfilment in Christ who has come to save everybody, if only, like Zacchaeus, they will meet him and accept him into their lives. Today salvation has come to us too if we are prepared to welcome Christ into our hearts.

The prayer of the humble

Like the Pharisee, those who are self-righteous have closed minds and hearts; they consider themselves superior to others. In contrast, those who are humble recognise that they are sinners before God; it is their prayer that will be answered. When we recognise that we need help we will receive it because we know that the answer to our prayer is due to God’s mercy and not to our own goodness.