I suppose that there are those pivotal moments in all of our lives that define what kind of person we are, and what kind of person we are going to be. We’ve all to face them, some of us more than others. I’m not talking about deciding what cereal to eat in the mornings or what music to listen to on the radio. I’m talking about more essential questions. They are the moments that you choose to tell the truth, or you choose to tell a lie. They are the times that you decide to practice your music lesson or your favorite sport, or else you decide to go hangout with your friends. It’s when you come to the realization at work that it is better to stay busy and put in a decent day’s work, or else you just hangout at work, doing as little as possible, waiting for someone to tell you what to do. We make choices like these and so many others that define our character, our integrity. These are not just preferences, or choices, or options, or opinions. These tell us, and everybody around us, who we really are.

The two thieves next to Jesus on Mt. Calvary are at that crossroads in their lives. They are at what is maybe the most pivotal moment of all in their lives. They are dying on a cross next to Jesus. And things are not looking real good. One of the thieves takes the easy way out. He goes along with the crowd. “Yeah”, he says, “if you’re the real messiah come down off that cross.” He doesn’t believe. He doesn’t see that Jesus has any real connection to himself. And he misses out. He just goes along with what they are saying down below on the ground. He makes his choice. The other thief, the so-called “good” thief, sees things another way. He knows his own guilt and he knows that this Jesus is innocent. He has a sense of God in his life. Then, in an act of faith, he asks for mercy and forgiveness. And Jesus gives him a place in His Kingdom.

What a powerful reading for this Feast of Christ the King! Today, just like the two thieves, we are asked to make a real choice. Jesus can be our Lord, our King, our God. Or not. He doesn’t force us you know. The choice is left up to each and every one of us. We are just like those thieves on the crosses next to Jesus. We too are guilty. Some of us ridicule Him and go along with the world, never seeing beyond our own situations. And some of us hang our hearts and souls and our hope on that disfigured carpenter from Nazareth . Either Jesus is your King, your Lord, and your God, or else He is not. What would your position have been if you were up on a cross with Jesus? Would you be the “Good” thief? Or would you be the other one? The fact is, guys, that we have to choose. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot be luke-warm. So what’s it going to be? Either Jesus gets to be God in your life, or something else or someone else, gets to be God in your life. Who is your King?

If Jesus is truly the King and Lord and God of your life, then we need to show it. There is no better way of doing this today, then by spending time with Him in Adoration. Today we get to hear a special message from our Adoration apostolate. And once again a choice has to be made by each of us.

Please welcome Alan Villandre… And Angie, and Megan and Tony