Solemnity of Christ the King
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Jesus never claimed to be a king. There is nothing in the scriptures that is clearer than that Jesus rejected the whole idea of being a king! Then you may have a question ; Why then do we have the feast of Christ the King? Why do we go against the words of Jesus and try to make him a king? Well, I don't think I have a perfect answer, but it is an answer, I guess. When Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925 he wrote a document to explain why and he said: "Because the people of the day" -- of that time -- "had thrust/push Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives."
They were rejecting Jesus. Again the words of Pius XI: "And these [the ways of Jesus] had no place in public affairs or in politics." as long as individuals and states refuse to submit to the rule, or the way of our savior, there will be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations."
We usually think of a king as someone with a lot of authority and maybe with some personal privileges. Today’s Gospel scene, then, either corrects or confirms the image we have of Christ as King. After all, the description of Christ as King in St. Luke’s Gospel is surely very different and seemingly strange. Christ’s Kingly crown? A crown of thorns. His royal robe? A soldier’s uniform cloak, thrown around His bloody shoulders in mockery and contempt. Christ’s royal jewelry? Nails driven through His flesh. And His Kingly throne? A cross of shame between two criminals. Yes, a very different and seemingly strange sort of King. And yet, King He is.
Jesus reminded them that the son of man did not come into this world to be served but to serve and to give his service even to the point of giving his life.
That is what we see on the cross. He is hanging on the cross, and even there he is being a servant, reaching out to that criminal who recognizes him for who he really is. Not as a king, but as a son of God. Jesus serves him by responding, "Yes, today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus was serving even to the point of giving his life.
Most of us don’t countenance very well the idea of subjecting ourselves to another’s power. Instead, we think about ourselves as being “lord” of our lives, oftentimes behaving under the false pretense that we really and truly are lord of our lives. All too frequently, however, life has its own way of teaching us some very harsh lessons through which discover that we really and truly are not the “lord” of our lives. People and things we’ve taken for granted suddenly disappear like the flowers of summer and we find ourselves standing alone in the autumn of our lives. We surely do like to think that we are lord of our lives; but, the truth is, we don’t even have the power to protect ourselves from the common cold!
As Pope John Paul II said: “Christ reigns over the universe, which he created. He is king because he is Creator. The Church proclaims the work of creation and ‘through the work of creation’; she proclaims ‘the reign of God’ in the world”
When Pilate asked-- "Are you a king?" -- In a sense Jesus says, "Alright, you say it. I am a king." But then immediately he wants Pilate to know that he is not a king in the sense of anyone having sovereignty over another, not a king with power, coercion, armies, wealth, prestige. No, Jesus only agrees to be called king according to the interpretation that he gives, "Yes, I'm a king, but the source of my being a king doesn't come from this world." He makes the obvious point, "Of course if I were a king like your king I would have an army. I wouldn't be a helpless person standing here bound in front of you. People would be fighting on my behalf, but I'm not that kind of a king. My kingdom does not come from this world. It's not out of this source. The only kind of reign I have is one that comes from God." And so therefore as Jesus defines his being a king, "I am a witness to the truth and if only you would hear my truth, the world could be changed. The reign of God could happen."
As one who gives witness to the truth, Jesus reminds us that the only power God uses, and that he would use as king, is the power of truth, the power of love. That's what can change everything. Not violence. Not force. Not coercion. Love. Being the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Being the one who declares to his disciples, "Greater love than this no one has than to lay down your life for your friend. And you are my friend." So he's telling them, "I lay down my life for you." That's the kind of kingship Jesus exercises. Love . . . caring for people . . . reaching out to the poor and giving them their dignity and their worth.
God reminds us in the book of Isaiah, “Your thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts” (Is 55:8-9).
Even one of the crucified criminals, the one that tradition calls Gestas, joins in on the ridicule. The Gospel states that he “reviled Jesus,” and each one of them said in their own words, “If you truly are Christ the King, then let’s see you save yourself.”
There is of course one more person in today’s Gospel that we cannot forget. Indeed, this is the one we should remember above all, since he is the one that is humble enough to realize that something greater is happening here: the one tradition calls Dismas, the good thief. What is his response to the idea that this crucified person next to him is a king? Recognizing somehow his kingly identity, he says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Dismas had faith, that is, he had evidence of things unseen. And with this act of faith, Jesus responds with the words that we would all like to hear at the end of our earthly life, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
And so, my dear brothers and sisters, who is on the throne of your life? Where is your heart set? Who or what is your priceless treasure? If it’s ourselves, then we’re committing idolatry. If it’s worldly honors, power or material things, what profit is it to gain the whole world, yet lose your soul? If it is our spouse or family, you will be able to love them even more when Christ is at the center, teaching you how to love as He loves.
If it is anything or anyone but Christ the King, be not afraid to approach the throne of mercy, for as St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, “God the Father delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, crown Jesus as Lord and King of your life.
Crown Him as King over your greatest worries and fears.
Crown Him as King over your seemingly insurmountable addictions or vice.
Crown Him as King over all your earthly blessings as well.
Crown Him as King over your precious family and relationships.
Crown Him as King over your life and your eternal destiny.
So that, at our last breath, we too may hear the Lord say, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
Jesus never claimed to be a king. There is nothing in the scriptures that is clearer than that Jesus rejected the whole idea of being a king! Then you may have a question ; Why then do we have the feast of Christ the King? Why do we go against the words of Jesus and try to make him a king? Well, I don't think I have a perfect answer, but it is an answer, I guess. When Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925 he wrote a document to explain why and he said: "Because the people of the day" -- of that time -- "had thrust/push Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives."
They were rejecting Jesus. Again the words of Pius XI: "And these [the ways of Jesus] had no place in public affairs or in politics." as long as individuals and states refuse to submit to the rule, or the way of our savior, there will be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations."
We usually think of a king as someone with a lot of authority and maybe with some personal privileges. Today’s Gospel scene, then, either corrects or confirms the image we have of Christ as King. After all, the description of Christ as King in St. Luke’s Gospel is surely very different and seemingly strange. Christ’s Kingly crown? A crown of thorns. His royal robe? A soldier’s uniform cloak, thrown around His bloody shoulders in mockery and contempt. Christ’s royal jewelry? Nails driven through His flesh. And His Kingly throne? A cross of shame between two criminals. Yes, a very different and seemingly strange sort of King. And yet, King He is.
Jesus reminded them that the son of man did not come into this world to be served but to serve and to give his service even to the point of giving his life.
That is what we see on the cross. He is hanging on the cross, and even there he is being a servant, reaching out to that criminal who recognizes him for who he really is. Not as a king, but as a son of God. Jesus serves him by responding, "Yes, today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus was serving even to the point of giving his life.
Most of us don’t countenance very well the idea of subjecting ourselves to another’s power. Instead, we think about ourselves as being “lord” of our lives, oftentimes behaving under the false pretense that we really and truly are lord of our lives. All too frequently, however, life has its own way of teaching us some very harsh lessons through which discover that we really and truly are not the “lord” of our lives. People and things we’ve taken for granted suddenly disappear like the flowers of summer and we find ourselves standing alone in the autumn of our lives. We surely do like to think that we are lord of our lives; but, the truth is, we don’t even have the power to protect ourselves from the common cold!
As Pope John Paul II said: “Christ reigns over the universe, which he created. He is king because he is Creator. The Church proclaims the work of creation and ‘through the work of creation’; she proclaims ‘the reign of God’ in the world”
When Pilate asked-- "Are you a king?" -- In a sense Jesus says, "Alright, you say it. I am a king." But then immediately he wants Pilate to know that he is not a king in the sense of anyone having sovereignty over another, not a king with power, coercion, armies, wealth, prestige. No, Jesus only agrees to be called king according to the interpretation that he gives, "Yes, I'm a king, but the source of my being a king doesn't come from this world." He makes the obvious point, "Of course if I were a king like your king I would have an army. I wouldn't be a helpless person standing here bound in front of you. People would be fighting on my behalf, but I'm not that kind of a king. My kingdom does not come from this world. It's not out of this source. The only kind of reign I have is one that comes from God." And so therefore as Jesus defines his being a king, "I am a witness to the truth and if only you would hear my truth, the world could be changed. The reign of God could happen."
As one who gives witness to the truth, Jesus reminds us that the only power God uses, and that he would use as king, is the power of truth, the power of love. That's what can change everything. Not violence. Not force. Not coercion. Love. Being the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. Being the one who declares to his disciples, "Greater love than this no one has than to lay down your life for your friend. And you are my friend." So he's telling them, "I lay down my life for you." That's the kind of kingship Jesus exercises. Love . . . caring for people . . . reaching out to the poor and giving them their dignity and their worth.
God reminds us in the book of Isaiah, “Your thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts” (Is 55:8-9).
Even one of the crucified criminals, the one that tradition calls Gestas, joins in on the ridicule. The Gospel states that he “reviled Jesus,” and each one of them said in their own words, “If you truly are Christ the King, then let’s see you save yourself.”
There is of course one more person in today’s Gospel that we cannot forget. Indeed, this is the one we should remember above all, since he is the one that is humble enough to realize that something greater is happening here: the one tradition calls Dismas, the good thief. What is his response to the idea that this crucified person next to him is a king? Recognizing somehow his kingly identity, he says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Dismas had faith, that is, he had evidence of things unseen. And with this act of faith, Jesus responds with the words that we would all like to hear at the end of our earthly life, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
And so, my dear brothers and sisters, who is on the throne of your life? Where is your heart set? Who or what is your priceless treasure? If it’s ourselves, then we’re committing idolatry. If it’s worldly honors, power or material things, what profit is it to gain the whole world, yet lose your soul? If it is our spouse or family, you will be able to love them even more when Christ is at the center, teaching you how to love as He loves.
If it is anything or anyone but Christ the King, be not afraid to approach the throne of mercy, for as St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, “God the Father delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, crown Jesus as Lord and King of your life.
Crown Him as King over your greatest worries and fears.
Crown Him as King over your seemingly insurmountable addictions or vice.
Crown Him as King over all your earthly blessings as well.
Crown Him as King over your precious family and relationships.
Crown Him as King over your life and your eternal destiny.
So that, at our last breath, we too may hear the Lord say, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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