SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, YEAR C

2 Samuel 5:1-3

Psalm 122

Colossians 1:12-20

Luke 23:35-43

JESUS OF NAZARETH IS KING INDEED

We celebrate today the solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe, a solemnity that concludes the liturgical year. But what kind of king is Jesus Christ? And what is the extension of his kingdom? In effect, the readings present us two contrasting images of Jesus’ kingship. The second reading is a hymn that celebrates the preeminence of Christ Jesus and his Lordship over all creation. Thus, Jesus is King and everything is subjected to him. On the other hand, the gospel presents us Jesus rejected, mocked, ridiculed and crucified. 

This is to tell us that we cannot celebrate the kingship of Jesus of Nazareth without looking to the cross. The cross is the emblem of victory. Jesus reigns from the cross. His power is precisely in his ability to let go of his own life for the sake of others. Through the shedding of his blood on Calvary, we have gained peace, redemption, forgiveness of our sins and reconciliation with God. In other words, in the moment of his crucifixion, Jesus is shown to be King and Savior of all. Thus, he is not only “the king of the Jews” but the King of the entire universe. His kingdom is eternal and universal.

Obviously, Jesus is King, but not the kind of king we might have imagined or expected. Humanly speaking, we tend to associate kings with power and prestige, with noble birth and great wealth. World kings are surrounded by people they command and all are their subjects. Often, self interests and egoistic ambitions motivate their rule and decisions. But Jesus is not such a king. He is the king who lays down his life for all. He does not have subjects but friends. 

In the first reading, all the tribes of Israel recognized their need of a king, a king who could protect and lead them in war against their enemies. Thus, the elders anointed David as their king in Hebron. May we too recognize our need of Jesus as King and Lord of our lives. May our world leaders recognize the kingship of Jesus and take him as their model so that our world may be a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.