Search
-
Today’s Solemnity of Christ the King always takes place on the last Sunday in Ordinary Time just before the beginning of Advent and the start of a new liturgical year. In Advent, we prepare for the two comings of Christ - as a baby in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, and his return as a King in glory at the end of time. Today’s celebration of the Kingship of Jesus prepares us for both comings of the Christ.
The First Reading on this solemnity comes from the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). It speaks of the Son of Man standing before the Ancient One (God the Father) to receive power and dominion over the nations. As Christians, we see this as a depiction of Jesus as the Messiah being given rule over all the nations of the earth. The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 93) continues the theme of the royal dignity of Jesus by including verses that speak of God as king of all the earth. It celebrates the fact that God created the world and therefore has dominion over it. The Father has shared that dignity with Jesus when he declared him to be Lord of everything that is in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth.
Our Gospel Reading today (John 18:33-37) likewise speaks of the kingship of Christ. It recounts the trial of Jesus before Pilate. Jesus explains to Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world. He did not come into the world to establish a political kingdom or to free the Jews from Roman occupation. Jesus came to set us free from the greater bondage to sin and death. He does this by proclaiming in word and in deed how much the Father loves us. Jesus calls upon his disciples, including us today, to look after the needs of the least among us, knowing that whatsoever we do for the least of the little ones, we do for him. We serve our King in serving each other, and particularly those most in need, for Jesus identifies himself with the poorest among us.
Jesus is a King like no other. The only crown our King ever wore was made of thorns. As we conclude this season of Ordinary Time and move into Advent next Sunday, let each of us make an accounting of our lives before the coming of our King. Have we been loyal subjects? In our prayer and daily living, do we treat Christ as a sovereign over us or as a servant who exists only to do our will? It is important to always keep in mind that God is God, and we are not! It is we who must choose to conform to God’s will, and not the other way around. Let us pray with the coming of Advent that Jesus will lead us and guide us in the ways of service, helping us to show our love for God by how we love and serve one another, especially the least among us.
