The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King 2 Sm 5:1-3; Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
With the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascension of King Charles III, the news has been filled with stories about monarchy. Americans have historically been interested in the ups and downs of the monarchy in Great Britain even though we don’t want one here. One of the themes that ran through the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s death was how successfully she reigned, though she did not rule.
That is the kind of monarch with whom we are more comfortable, i.e., those who reign but do not rule. But that is not the kind of king Jesus Christ is. He reigns and rules. And that is the rub. Do we really let Jesus rule in our lives, or do we only have him as a figurehead ruler? Do we continue to make all the big decisions alone without any reference to Jesus’ sovereignty in our lives?
The readings this week are calling us to be monarchists. Not to have primary allegiance to any human king or queen or state or nation, but to recognize that Jesus is Savior and friend, but also Lord.
In the Book of Samuel, we have the account of how the people of Israel asked King David to become their king and spouse. As you listen to this week’s reading, you might hear the invitation for David to become their king, but you might miss the proposal that David become their husband. The words of the reading harken back to the Book of Genesis (2:23): “Here we are, your bone and your flesh” — words Adam used as he took Eve as his wife, noting that she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.
David’s relationship with his people of Israel is completed and perfected in the relationship of the Son of David, Jesus Christ, with the Church.
Jesus, however, is not like any human king. He comes not dressed in finery or with fanfare. None of the pomp and circumstance that accompanied the funeral of Queen Elizabeth nor that will accompany the coronation of King Charles is associated with Christ the King. Rather, his throne is a cross, and he is unrecognizable by those who do not come to him in faith.
Yet, it is this king that is the only king that can truly rule. He is the ruler to whom all owe their allegiance. His love for us and his relationship with us will not allow us simply to accept him as a titular monarch. He must rule and reign in our lives.
What does it look like when we allow Jesus to reign and rule? We then can look at the crucified Christ and see him as our spouse and Lord and cry out with the repentant thief, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Because only Jesus Christ has the power to open to us a place in paradise with him.
Msgr. Timothy Keeney is pastor of Incarnation, Charlottesville.