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Home , Christ the King, Feast of Christ the King

34 Sunday - C The Feast of

There is an inspiring anecdote about Abraham Lincoln. In April 1865, the slain body of Abraham lay in state for a few hours in Cleveland, Ohio for mourners to pay their tribute. It was on its final journey from the nation’s capital to Springfield, Illinois. In the long queue, when an African American woman and her little son reached the president’s body, she lifted her little son up and said in a hushed voice: “ Honey, take a long, long look. That man died for you.” What that African American mother said to her child can be said about by every mother of every child. Pointing to the body of Jesus on the crucifix, she can say: “ Honey, take a long, long look. That man died for you. ”

Today’s gives us the same advice, presenting the crucifixion scene of Christ our King. Jesus is the King of Kings not only because of who he is but also because of what he did. Paul puts it this way in today’s second reading: “ God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself…through his Son’s sacrificial death on the cross. ”

What is the historical background of this ? - The Church’s concludes with this feast of Christ the King, established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. As far as the historical context is concerned, after the First World War in 1914 to 1918, the people in Europe and the whole world were in despair. In order to give hope and peace, Pope Pius XI declared Christ as the King of Peace to the whole universe and so proclaimed “the peace of Christ in the reign of Christ.” What is the biblical background of this feast of Christ the King? - Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Micah announced the coming of Christ as a king: “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel ” (Mic 5:1). Moreover, the Book of Daniel presents “one coming like a Son of man… to him will be given dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion; his kingship shall never be destroyed. ” In the New Testament, at the annunciation the angel said, “The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end ” (Lk 1: 32-33). During the trial of Jesus, Pilate asked the question (Jn 18: 33), “Are you the king of the Jews? ” and Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. ” In today’s gospel, the inscription on the cross reads: “This is the King of the Jews. ” Furthermore, before his ascension into heaven, Jesus declared (Mt. 28:18), “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ” Finally, in Matthew 25:31, we read that Christ the King will come again in glory to judge us on the day of the Last Judgment. Did Jesus ever want to be a king? - Jesus never wanted to be a king at all. For instance, after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, the people wanted to make him a king. Knowing this, Jesus withdrew from them to the mountain alone (Jn 6:15). Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world ” (Jn 18:36). Therefore, Jesus admits that he is a king but declares that his kingdom is not of this world. He did not look for any power or status of this world. Instead, he was ready to take up the cross as his throne and thorns as his crown. He claimed that he had come to bear witness to the truth about the eternal kingdom. The preface of today describes Jesus’ kingdom as a “ kingdom of truth and life, kingdom of holiness and grace, kingdom of justice, kingdom of love and peace, to free mankind from all types of bondage, to live peacefully and happily on earth and to inherit eternal life in heaven. ”

Jesus is the King of Kings forever - Today’s first reading recalls the story of David’s anointing as the King of Israel. David was seen as the representation of the future Messianic King (2 Sm 7: 16, Is 9: 6-7, Jer 23: 5). However, the key difference between David and Christ is that David’s reign lasted a mere forty years, but Christ's reign is eternal (Lk 1:32). David was a mere man, sinful but repentant. Christ was the Son of God, sinless, and died on the cross to free all men from their sins.

In the second reading, Paul asserts that Christ the King, as the “image of the invisible God,” is superior to all earthly “ thrones, dominions or principalities or powers (because) all these things were created through him and for him.” Today’s Gospel teaches that Christ became the King of our hearts and lives by his crucifixion and resurrection.

And so, first of all, we celebrate the fact that Jesus is the King of Kings because of who he is. He is the Son of God, the “image of the invisible God.” Second, we celebrate the fact that Jesus is the King of Kings because of what he did. He died for us. He redeemed us. He reunited us with God.

How do we listen to Christ the King today? - Sometimes we may tend to follow an authoritative and controlling model rather than a servant model in our parish ministry or in our families. Christ the King once again reminds us all to serve another on this feast day. As we pray in the prayer “Our Father,” “ Thy kingdom come, ” let us pray that his kingdom may rule our life, our families, and our parish. Let us enthrone him in our hearts.

In the words of Paul in Colossians 3:15,” “ let peace of Christ rule in your heart ” so that Christ the King of Peace may always guide all actions of your life every day. If you do, Christ will say to you before you die what he said to the good thief before he died in today’s gospel: “ Amen, I say to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise. ”