Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. We are at the end of the Church year and start next Sunday with Advent. We’ve been on a journey with Jesus since the summer following him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Along the way Jesus has taught us about the virtues of charity, mercy, and humility through the parables of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Pharisee and tax collector are a few that we heard. We’ve learned of Jesus’ encounter with people and how he changed their lives such as the tree climbing Zacchaeus who Jesus came to dine with. We heard of Jesus’ miracles in curing the man withered hand, healing the woman who touched his garment, and raising the only son of the widow from Nain, revealing his divine powers. Today we find Jesus at his final destination in Jerusalem: The Cross, where He shows us the type of king he is. A servant who offers his life to redeem us.
In this closing scene of the crucifixion we hear the rulers, soldiers, and criminals sneering, jeering, and reviling him. They ridicule him with a sign above cross for the crime he
was crucified: “This is the King of the Jews.” The soldiers and criminal mock his kingship asking, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself”. They had no idea what kind of King he was. Jesus didn’t come to Jerusalem to save himself, he came to save us. Jesus leads by sacrificing himself for the sake of his flock, each one of us, and even those who mock and despise him.
In his most vulnerable state dying on the cross Jesus exercises his Kingship in showing mercy to the repentant thief, who repents for his crimes, “we have been condemned justly”. In faith he trusts Jesus asking him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus exercises his power granting him mercy, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”.
In today’s opening prayer we heard, “Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service, and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.” What is the slavery we are set free from? The evil of sin, which brought death into the world by the devil. Jesus conquers the kingdom of the world by his saving death. He wants us to have eternal life in his everlasting Kingdom. We just need to ask for his mercy.
When I think of how evil of sin is overcome by following Christ the King in showing love and Mercy, Saint John Paul II comes to mind. Many of us recall Saint John Paul II as he was lived during our lifetimes. One of the main evils during his reign as Pope was the Soviet Union and communism throughout the eastern Europe. The threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union weighed heavy on many of us during this time. Pope John Paul was instrumental in the efforts that eventually led to the breakup of the Soviet Union. He did role was not by political power, but spiritual. The spark that started the breakup was his first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979. He addressed the Polish people reminding them of who they were, children of God, created with dignity and a responsibility, and that they were meant to be free in him. He said that in resisting communism they had to do so responsibly, peacefully and overcoming evil with good. The Soviet Union eventually collapsed 13 years after this visit. I never thought that would be a reality in my lifetime. Another image etched in my mind is the meeting of Saint John Paul II to forgive his would-be assassin, sitting together in intimate conversation two years after the incident. Saint John Paul II was unafraid of the vulnerability created by living in forgiveness, of sitting in total love with the enemy. He truly followed the model of Christ, the Servant King ruling with mercy and love.
When we come together each week to receive the Eucharist we receive a foretaste of God’s kingdom where, we are set free. At each Mass Christ’s sacrifice on the altar is re-presented to us. The Eucharist brings us together to worship our King and recall his gift of mercy to enter into his glorious kingdom. What kind of kingdom will it be? A kingdom of truth and life. A kingdom of holiness and grace. A kingdom of justice, love, and peace.
As we now participate in Christ’s Kingdom now through the Eucharist, let’s thank him. Let’s pray that the grace we’ll receive helps to make his Kingdom present in the world by showing our love to God and our neighbor.
We’ll be doing this Sunday afternoon by sharing all the food we’ve given to our neighbors at our Thanksgiving food distribution. I’m sure there are many other ways that each of us makes Christ’s kingdom present in the world showing love and mercy, empowered by the Eucharist. In doing so we hope that others will be attracted to join us as loyal subjects serving in Christ’s kingdom.
