Thirty-fourth Sunday of the Year, C – Nov 20, 2016: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Last Sunday of the Year & Official Closing of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in Rome.
Readings: 2 Sam 5:1-3; Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5(cf.1); Col 1:12-20; Gospel Luke 23:35-43.
Theme: Living for the King of Kings & the Lord of Lords!
My dear people of God, today is Christ the King - A day in which the liturgical cycle of the Church closes. The celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe reminds Christians about the indefectible place of Christ’s reign over the earth and the call to live accordingly as heirs of the Kingdom.
The celebration of Christ the King dates back to 1925 when Pope Pius XI instituted it. By 1970, the celebration was moved to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Holy Father wanted the solemnity to impact on the faithful in the following ways:
1. To enable them gain strength and courage upon meditating on these truths so as to live ideal Christian lives;
2. To facilitate our becoming subject to Christ’s dominion without exempting any of our faculties since his power embraces all peoples;
3. To let him reign in our minds, which must assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths, and to the doctrines of Christ;
4. To let Christ reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God;
5. To let him reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires, and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone;
6. To let him reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for interior sanctification of our souls, or instruments of justice unto God as Saint Paul would say.
To put this celebration in perspective, the first reading (2 Sam 5:1-3) recounts how David was anointed by God as shepherd, prince and king over Israel. It is no mistake that Christ comes from the Davidic dynasty to reign as King. Although the Jewish leaders would mockingly compare Jesus with David, the anointed one, little did they know that they were stating the obvious as later, that identity would be revealed by the good-thief on the cross as the gospel (Luke 23:35-43) states.
By saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power,” the good-thief disclosed the true identity of Jesus as King. We must remember that God’s kingdom was inaugurated at the incarnation. By that inauguration, Jesus established a dynasty while reminding his followers that the real kingdom lies in heaven. Not only did Christ come to announce the second coming of God’s kingdom but also to prepare the elect for their spiritual responsibilities. That he would come again to judge the living and the dead calls for a sober reflection on a day like this. We must access ourselves whether we have been faithful heirs of the kingdom.
Saint Paul (in the second reading, Col. 1:12-20) goes ahead to reveal that we have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light – meaning that we are legitimate heirs of God’s kingdom. He adds that we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and catapulted to the kingdom of his Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. In this kingdom, he says, we are forgiven. He sums his catechesis by insisting that God’s kingdom is everlasting because all things were created through him and for him noting that he is the beginning and the end. By implication, we cannot do anything outside of his sovereignty or rulership since it is in him that we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
Christ the King celebration affords us an opportunity to always imitate the good thief by looking at whatever situation we find ourselves with “the eyes of faith” rather than “the eyes of situation.” By looking at his situation with “the eyes of faith,” the good thief knew that God was not done with him yet; he also did not lose faith but saw God’s unfathomable mercies as an opportunity to not only reform but ask for one last chance which he did and Jesus granted his wish of entering heaven. Many commentators are of the opinion that he stole on earth and also stole heaven.
Let us digress a little to recall how notorious this thief was before we go back to lessons from the bad-thief. There are other non-biblical accounts of how the good-thief spared the baby-Jesus on the flight to Egypt. The story has it that while Jesus’ mother, Mary and foster father, Joseph were on their way to Egypt, a dreaded gang of robbers ambushed them. While the other thieves were bent on robbing the family, the baby-Jesus smiled. At that point, the good thief ordered his colleagues to spare the Holy Family. Apparently, while on the cross, Jesus remembered the kindness of this thief and since one good turn deserves another, he spared him the fires of hell.
Back to lessons from the bad-thief who looked at his situation with “the eyes of situation.” He could not give a leap a faith; he saw himself as condemned. This led him to self pity – a situation that gave him no hope. This further led to frustration and transfer of aggression, a situation that made him to challenge Jesus. In the end, the good-thief rebuked him for condemning an innocent man and having no fear of God. This is a big lesson for us – Christ the King celebration gives us the chance to resist caging ourselves in murky situations. The occasion reminds us that since God, our King is on the throne, it shall be well with us – this, however, demands looking at our situation with “the eyes of faith not “the eyes situation.”
Incidentally too, today being November 20, 2016 the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy which was inaugurated on December 8, 2015 by the Holy Father, Pope Francis comes to a close at the Universal level with the official ceremonies of closing the door of mercy holding in Rome. Notwithstanding this celebration, we are called to intensify our commitment to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy as fruits of this encounter.
As we process with the Blessed Sacrament chanting Kingly and Eucharistic hymns unto the Lord, may Christ reign in our hearts and in homes so that the effects are felt in our society. May we live for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords - May Christ, the King, help us to overcome the challenges of this life so as prepare for the kingdom that would never end, amen.
Have a terrific day!
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