THEME: CHRIST WILL COME AS KING OF KINGS
READINGS: 2 Sam. 5:1-3 / Col. 1:12-20 / Luke 23:35-43
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING
He, who came in a humble way as a son of David born in Bethlehem, will come again but this time in awesome majesty as the Son of God, the King of kings. He, who was mocked as ‘king of the Jews’ on the cross (gospel reading), will come again in an impossible to imagine divine glory! On that day, all peoples including all kings and presidents, dead and alive, will bow and acknowledge that Jesus is the King of kings, Lord of lords, President of all presidents! Yes, he who is coming is great! Indeed, he is the greatest, ‘for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him’ (second reading)!
Normally, we don’t associate powerful personalities with love; but Jesus, being God (cf. second reading), is not only all-powerful, he is also most loving. He loves every one of us; indeed he loves even people we think do not deserve to be loved. Jesus loves us so much that he became poor so that we might share in his divine riches (2 Cor. 8:9). What is more? He sacrificed his very life for us: ‘for greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13).
Again, because of his great love for us, he has prepared for each of us a reward (heaven) which is greater than the service we render him or in his name. Thus, when he comes again, he does so bringing reward for those whose service has pleased him. How do we please Jesus? By making Jesus the KING of our personal and daily lives here on earth. When we allow Jesus to rule our personal lives every day we will not be afraid of meeting him on the last day; rather, we will be eager to meet him, whom we please every day.
How do we make him the KING of our personal lives every day? BY FAITH AND ACTION. What kind of faith? Faith in the Father, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in what Jesus has taught us about eternal life (John 14:1-6, 15-16; 17:2-3) – a faith which influences our actions. What kind of Actions? Mt. 25:31-46 tells us the sort of actions Jesus our King expects of us:
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To care for the stranger;
- To cloth the naked;
- To care for the sick; and
- To visit the imprisoned.
We please our King by these six actions and similar ones. May we always be eager to help the needy! Amen! And may every help we give put a smile, not only on the face of the beneficiary, but also on the face of the King of kings! Amen!
May every help we give increase the credit in our account in heaven! Amen!
May every help we give wipe out the deficit of our sins, Amen!
By Very Rev. Fr. John Louis
