Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King)

Dominica D.N. Iesu Christi Regis
24 November 2024 

This weekend the Church observes the 34th or last Sunday in Ordinary Time.  This marks the final Sunday of the Church’s current liturgical year.  It is marked by observing the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.  Now it may be a challenge for us to think deeply about what it means that the Lord identifies himself as a king whose kingdom is not of earthly origin.  “My kingdom does not belong to this world,” Jesus said.  The challenge for us Americans is that “king” and “kingdom” terminology sounds like old time language and foreign concepts at best.  At worst, it sounds like the stuff of fairy tales and legends.  The history of the founding of our country after all involves throwing off the ties of monarchical rule, and the idea of a king is not natural to us in our democratic republic marked by authority coming from the people and exercised by representative government.  Yet, we need to be clear that the Lord identifies himself as a king, as our king.  This speaks to us about his sovereignty over us.  It tells us that we need to think deeply about the Lord’s mastery over us, over every aspect of our lives.  His kingship tells us about the type of obedience he is owed from us.

The first reading from the Prophet Daniel and the second reading from the Book of Revelation share in common that they report to us a vision of the author.  In the Old Testament the phrase “son of man” is typically used to refer to a human being.  Yet, in the vision of Daniel (the first reading) there is an obviously different meaning, because Daniel sees a heavenly vision, he sees a celestial being who appears like a son of man, he writes.  In other words, this particular son of man is divine.  And we know he is not of merely human origin because he does not come in a human procession of fanfare.  Rather, this one comes on the clouds of heaven, and when he comes before the throne of God, the Ancient One, this Son of man is given dominion, glory, and kingship over everything.  The vision of St. John in the Book of Revelation (the second reading) likewise identifies Jesus as the ruler over all earthly rulers and it notes his divine origin and kingship in that he comes, again that phrase, amid the clouds.  As we must think deeply about how the Lord identifies himself as a king, and even as we know that requires obedience from us, we should rejoice because Jesus is the perfect king.  He loves us and knows what is best for us.  He calls us to an obedience that is not about oppression, but rather he knows we will be truly free of external and internal enslavement if we live in accord with his commands.  He is a king who lowers himself to serve us and to save us by his mercy.

Imagine whatever fanfare comes to mind when you think of a king and a kingdom.  Perhaps the coronation of King Charles not that long ago in English gives us some images.  Trumpet blast.  Banners flying.  Armies in formation.  Servants attending.  Colorful attire and various ranks in the king’s court.  All of that pales in comparison to the way the entire universe is arrayed to celebrate the kingship of Jesus whose majesty and glory has him coming on the clouds.  But as captivating as all that pageantry may be, the kingship of Christ hangs on the response that is required from each of us.  And a response is needed from us.  A personal response.  Our response cannot be a corporate response only, just going along with the crowds.  It is corporate and involves the community of the Church certainly, but it cannot be only corporate.  In the end, our response cannot be made for us by someone else.  In a certain sense, apart from external regal fanfare, standing alone before the king shows us whether our response is adequate.  And thinking deeply about this response to the kingship of Jesus is important because one day it will have eternal consequences as we stand alone before the king who will judge our obedience.  That’s what I mean by saying that all the external fanfare of kingship, whatever we imagine about the kingship of Christ, it all hangs on the personal response demanded of each disciple.

 For that reason, almost apart from any words spoken, it is just the setting itself of the Gospel text that most catches my attention today.  The Gospel selection from St. John is the trial and judgment of Jesus leading to his crucifixion.  That trial and judgment scene takes place at the praetorium where Pilate exercises Roman authority.  But more specifically, this section of St. John’s Gospel has scenes standing on the outside of the praetorium with the raucous crowds and more quiet and personal scenes inside the praetorium, away from public notice.  Our selection today is a scene inside the praetorium where apart from the crowds and the spectacle and the public eye, Pilate is alone with Jesus.  Pilate stands alone with Jesus.  And so must we all – right now, today – as a test of our discipleship.  And so we all will – one day – as the test of our judgment.  Jesus is the universal king with a kingship of higher authority than this world.  When we think of the commitment we should have to daily prayer, time spent with the king who loves us, can we imagine ourselves in that personal, private scene inside the praetorium?  There, Pilate seems to be in control but it is really he who is being interrogated, he who is on trial.  Can you see your life and your response to the kingship of Jesus in that scene?  Pilate’s “Are you the King of the Jews?”  becomes our own interrogation about our response to Jesus by asking ourselves, “Are you the king of me?”.  Or, said in more natural English, “Are you my king, Lord?”  The Lord responds with his own question that highlights our own personal responsibility: “Do you say this on your own?”  When we think of the commitment we should have to Sunday and holy day Masses where we give the Lord the worship he is owed, will we let ourselves hear that examination of conscience, “Are you my king, Lord?”  When we think of the call to holiness in our King’s kingdom, when we think of the battle we must undertake to root out sin, when we think of the need to confess sins frequently, what does our personal practice and response say to that question, “Are you my king, Lord?”  When we think of how our lives as disciples should be oriented to generous service, the giving of our time, and talent and treasure, a generous service to the least of our brothers and sisters, “Are you my king, Lord?”  The Lord’s “Do you say this on your own” serves as an examination for that personal response we must all give to the kingship of Christ.  Imagining the private scene inside the praetorium, may we find encouragement that our proclamation of the kingship of Christ is far more than words on the lips, but more about the way we live as disciples who listen and belong to the voice of truth.