Solemnity
of Christ the King
Readings:
2 Samuel 5:1 -3; Colossians 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
Christ
is Our King Forever.
Today,
the last Sunday of the year, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King.
Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year
(A). We live in a democracy, not ruled by kings, queens, princes, or
princesses. The idea of a king, even Christ, can evoke discomfort. But why do
we have this feast? The Solemnity of Christ the King was instituted by Pope
Pius XI in 1925. When it was first celebrated, Benito Mussolini was Prime
Minister of Italy (1922-1943); Adolf Hitler had been out of jail for a year,
and his Nazi Party was growing in popularity; soon, he would be appointed
Chancellor of Germany (1933). Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union. At that time, the world lay in great
throes of depression, secularism, and atheism. The Pope asserted that the most
effective defense against the destructive forces of the age is the recognition
of Christ’s kingship. So, this feast asks a few questions: Who exercises
dominion over you? Who do you listen to?
The
children of Israel regarded God as their Lord. He brought them out of Egypt to
the Promised Land. The Lord appointed leaders called judges to assist him in
the day-to-day administration of the people. But when the Hebrews observed that
kings ruled their neighbors, they requested a king so they could be like them.
Samuel tried to discourage them because their request was a rejection of God’s
sovereignty. But they were adamant. Samuel warned them: “The king will
assign your sons to his chariot and horses; they will do his plowing and his harvesting
and make his implements of war and equipment of his chariot. He will use your
daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers. He will take the best of
your fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials. He
will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your
asses, and use them to do his work. He will tithe your flocks and you
yourselves will become his slaves.” (1 Samuel 8:10-18). But they would
not listen to Samuel. God heeded their request, and Saul became the first king
of Israel. Saul will soon be rejected, and David will succeed him.
In
the first reading, David, a brilliant and far-sighted military and political
leader, was anointed king of both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel.
He was a king after God’s heart (1 Sam. 13:14). God promised David, “Your
house and your kingdom shall endure forever; your throne shall stand firm for
forever.” (2 Sam. 7:16). The
psalmist rejoices over the election of David: “I have chosen David, my
servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.” (Ps. 89:21). Jesus is a descendant of David and so He is
the king whose kingdom will have no end.
Christ
is a different kind of king, not the type described by Samuel. To Pilate,
Christ said, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I
came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth
listens to my voice.” But “My kingdom does not belong to this
world.” (Jn. 18:36-37).
The
kings of this world are protected by bodyguards, soldiers, attendants, guns,
tanks, and military might. But Jesus did not have any of those, nor did He need
them. He surrendered himself with twelve unlettered men, who abandoned him at
the slightest provocation. He had no one to speak for him, and He did not even
defend himself. He was arrested in the garden, tried at night, convicted of a
crime he did not commit, and crucified as a criminal between two criminals.
Allow your imagination to wander as you
envision a world where Christ is our king. In such a world, there would be
love—love for everyone, regardless of language, color, creed, or status. There
would be peace —no wars or rumors of war. As the prophet Isaiah said, “They shall beat their
swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall
not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.”
(Is. 21:4). Guns will not be heard of, nor will there be a need for
self-protection. Our streets would be safe. There would be public trust in our
social structures. We would respect our environment and not jeopardize the
world by global warming. We would eat healthy meals and be afraid to poison our
bodies with opioids or other substances. There would be perfect harmony between
human beings and nature, and no one would be afraid of or harm the other,
because the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Is. 11:1-9). Oh
no, it was a dream! You can wake up now!
This
is the picture painted for us today as we come to the end of this Church’s
year. We are to reflect on the bounties that Christ the King brings. He wants
us to emulate him, to do what He has done. He shows us, by example, how to
live, so that we may live in peace with him in this world and in the next.
While dying on the cross, Jesus forgave the repentant thief and promised him
everlasting life. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in
Paradise.” He prayed for those who killed him on the cross. “Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk.
23:34).
St
Luke portrays Jesus as the king reigning on the cross. He is truly the king of
love, mercy, and forgiveness. The Preface at this Mass demonstrates the kingdom
Christ came to establish: “As king he claims dominion over all creation that
he may present to You, his almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a
kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of
justice, love and peace.” Christ is our king, for on his Cross, He gives us
everything without counting the cost. As we receive the gifts of pardon, mercy,
and forgiveness, may we offer the same to others. When we go to meet Christ,
the universal king, may he welcome us to his kingdom with these words: “Truly,
I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. Amen.
Points
to Ponder:
·
Is
Christ the king of my heart?
·
Is
Christ the Lord of my life?
· Are you willing to forgive others as God forgives you?
“Don’t forget to pray today because
God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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