KING OF KINGS, KING OF GLORY.

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November 24, 2024.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – B.

Readings: Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5; Rv 1:5-8; Jn18:33b-37.

"Who is he, this King of glory?" Psalm 24, singing the great Advent of the Lord, asks us twice to reflect on the Lord's kingship. In verses 8 and 10, it questions the Lord's Kingship. We read that he is King of Glory. From there springs the theme of today's meditation on the word of God. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, the King of Glory.

A Portuguese proverb says: “As the king lives, so live his vassals.” An Ivorian proverb adds: “To love a king is not bad, but a king who loves you is better.”

We are celebrating today, the last Sunday of the Ordinary Time B. It is also known as Christ the King Sunday. Our hearts and attentions are called to revolve on Chris today, particularly on the throne of his reign, the Cross.

Jesus reigns as a King. His Kingship is manifested when he dies hanging on the Cross. There, his glory truly shows up and sets us free. INRI, on the top of the Cross where he died, this inscription could be read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), from the Latin phrase Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum. The Lord is king. But what type of king is he?

Celebrating the Solemnity of the Kingship of the Lord. The opening prayer already gives the tune. God the Father's will is to restore all things in his beloved Son, the King of the universe. His mission is to set the whole creation free from slavery and ready to render him praiseworthy service and ceaselessly proclaim his majesty. In order to fulfill that mission, Jesus found no other perfect way than obedience until the end, and death on the Cross.

We all have beautiful caricatured images of kings. They are people super powerful, sumptuously vested, seated on thrones, crowned with gold, and surrounded by servants and slaves at their service.

The Lord, however, brings about another form of Kingship, humility, service, and self-offering. When he was asked by Pilate, in today's Gospel, “Are you the King of the Jews?” the answer of the Lord was without detour and gave the deep meaning of leadership: “You say I am a king. For this, I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Before that, the Lord made it clear: “My kingdom does not belong to this world." What could it mean?

Simply, Jesus dissociates himself with leadership and Kingship where what matters is honor, fame, and appearance. He reigns in humility and service. As king, his throne is the Cross. His crown is thorns. His scepter is love to the extreme. Truly, this breaks from our vision of Kings.

In the first reading, Daniel could foresee the Royalty and say: The "Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him." The Prophet goes further to add: "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed." Jesus is King forever.

The message of the Solemnity of Christ the King is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate ruler and sovereign over all creation, reigning eternally above all earthly powers and that we are called to fully surrender our lives to his authority and live according to his will; essentially reminding us that Jesus is the true King of the universe, not just of the Church, and that his reign is everlasting despite changing earthly leaders.

Secondly, we are called to submit our lives to Jesus' authority and live according to his teachings. That means a social responsibility, that following Christ's example, we should strive to bring his love and justice into the world. As the Lord answered Pilate, his mission is to instaure truth. We should, therefore, aim to make the truth our rule of life. Live in the truth, speak the truth, and become instruments of the truth. Where reign the truth, there will surely be justice, harmony, unity, peace, and love. People will live not only for themselves but for others. Always eager to serve rather than to be served.

May this Solemnity remind us of our baptismal responsibilities: You are Priests, Prophets, and Kings. The priest is the one who stands at the altar and through certain words and signs performs religious rights. So, we ought to be truly religious and Servants of God. We are also to be the prophet, the one who speaks for God, not just in words, but by the way we live. To stand as witnesses in today's world. Proclaiming God's message and bringing justice to all the nations, bringing peace into the world... And lastly, Kings, to serve not as rulers with might and power and armies, but only as one who serves out of love, after the example of Jesus.



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