Breaking Open the Word
November 23, The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Introduction
Readings:
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43
Introduction
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King on the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent. Today we end the Church's liturgical year by reflecting on the sacrifice of the promised Davidic Messiah, the promised return of Christ the King at the end of the age, and celebrating His universal kingship.
God chose David to rule over His people when he was still a shepherd boy, when God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him as the future king of Israel. As a young man, David fought in the army of King Saul and became a mighty warrior and a poet, beloved and respected by the people. After Saul's death, David's tribe of Judah made him their king; seven years later, when he was thirty years old, the other tribes of Israel came to David and asked him to be the king of all of the Israelite tribes. When the tribes said to David “Here we are, your bone and your flesh”, they were acknowledging their kinship link with him and the divine command that only Israelites anointed by God could be kings over the covenant people.
Jesus Christ is David's heir. Jesus fulfills the royal covenant God made with David that his throne would endure forever. The Kingdom over which Jesus Christ rules is the Church on earth and the Church of the Saints in Heaven. Through the New Covenant, Jesus, son of David and Son of God, has made us one "flesh" in kinship with Him through the gift of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We celebrate and renew our covenant in Christ in every Eucharist, giving thanks for our redemption and looking forward to the day we will be with Him in Paradise.
Today’s Psalm is one of the songs of ascent for pilgrims going up to the Holy City of Jerusalem. The writer has joyfully reached his goal as he enters the gates of Jerusalem. The city impresses the pilgrim with its strength and unity with the Temple of God at its center, and acclaims the holy city of God from which King David ruled with justice.
In the second reading, Colossians 1:12–20 is one of the most beautifully articulated tributes to Christ in the New Testament. What is most obvious is that Christ is honored as God’s most glorious agent and the one most deserving of our worship. It also points out that Christ in the Trinity was present at the beginning of creation and is working through all time for the salvation of all.
Gospel Explained
On the cross, Jesus is mocked by many people. First are the passersby, they reminded the Lord of His words about the destruction of the temple: “So you would destroy the temple and and rebuild it in 3 days? Save yourself and come down from the cross!” They are taunting Him with contempt for His powerless state, while at the same time tempting Him as the devil himself had done.
The second group were the Roman soldiers, who divided up His garments, fulfilling the words of Psalm 22:19. The jeered at Him and offered Him bitter wine, which He refused.
The third group were members of the Sanhedrin: priests, scribes, and elders. Their mockery was a fulfillment from the book of Wisdom, which tell of a just man who stands in the way of the wicked life of others, who calls Himself the Son of God and is handed over to suffering (Wisdom 2:12-20). Read Wisdom chapter 5 on the final judgment on those who mocked Jesus. They had such contempt for Him to dare Him to come down from the cross if He was really the Son of God.
Finally, the others who mocked Jesus were the two men crucified alongside Him. John’s gospel uses the same word to describe Barabbas, revolutionaries. Placing Jesus between two known revolutionaries was a way of mocking Jesus as guilty by association, which must have pleased the Jewish leaders. The one criminal joined in the mockery, but he inadvertently recognized Jesus as the Christ: “Are you not the Christ?” So many times those who accused Jesus were unintentionally speaking the truth. The other criminal grasped the mystery of Jesus. He had a full view of the crowd’s jeering, and he heard Jesus’ last words, including forgiving those who persecuted Him. It’s unknown why he had a change of heart, but he recognized Jesus was innocent. He realized that Jesus was the Son of God by his words: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus’ response goes beyond what was asked of Him: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Today's Theme
The theme for this Sunday is Christ the King. This feast day was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, following the great tragedy of World War I, in response to an increase in secularism and atheism. He recognized that attempting to thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of public life would result in continuing discord among people and nations. This solemnity reminds us that while governments come and go, Christ reigns as King forever. In his encyclical ‘On the Feast of Christ the King’ He wrote:
“We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and His holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, that is, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord.”
Too many did not listen to his words, which led to an even worse World War II, and Korea, and the cold war, and on and on.
The title King can be confusing in this time in human history where very few earthly kings even exist anymore. Pope PIus XI further explains:
“It has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of “King,” because of the high degree of perfection whereby He excels all creatures. So He is said to reign “in the hearts of men,” both by reason of the keenness of His intellect and the extent of His knowledge, and also because He is very truth, and it is from Him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind. He reigns, too, in the wills of men, for in Him the human will was perfectly and entirely obedient to the Holy Will of God, and further by His grace and inspiration He so subjects our free-will as to incite us to the most noble endeavors.”
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, even though he ordered Him to be crucified out of fear and convenience. So he mocked the Jewish leaders by using their claim against Jesus as King against them, with the sign above Him: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The fact that the inscription was written in Greek and Latin, the two major languages of the known world of that time, as well as Hebrew, is a sign that the kingship of Christ is to be proclaimed to all of humanity. His spiritual kingship is especially revealed from the throne of the cross where He redeemed the world.
Theme in our Life Today
In light of the writings of Pope Pius XI on Christ the King, his words ring even more true in our time, in that Christ has been replaced by secular beliefs in so much of society, with the terrible effects he predicted.
Catholic tradition says the good thief’s name was Dismas. Jesus said to him: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Why did Jesus promise salvation to one of the criminals? His act of righteousness in defending Jesus, his penance in acknowledging his sins, and his profession of faith in Jesus as the promised Davidic Messiah and king won him Jesus's promise of eternal salvation.
The question for each of us is, will my name be recorded in the heavenly "Book of Life" that lists those humble and penitent souls destined for salvation? We all have the same opportunity as the good thief to confess our sins to Christ and to acknowledge Him as our sovereign Lord and King. If we do, we have the assurance that one day, we will also hear Him say to us: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise," as Jesus liberated the good thief from the bonds of Sheol.
Jesus’ promise to Dismas tells us one thing for certain: Jesus knew He would enter directly into fellowship with the Father- that the promise of Paradise was something He could offer today. He knew He was leading mankind back to the Paradise from which it had fallen: into fellowship with God as man’s true salvation. So in the history of Christian devotion, the good thief has become an image of hope- an image of the consoling certainty that God’s mercy can reach us even in our final moments, that even after a misspent life, the plea for His gracious favor is not made in vain. There’s an irony in calling him “the good thief” in that Dismas stole heaven at the last hour.
For Christians, when our faith is repeatedly marginalized in public life, we can fall into the habit of compartmentalizing our lives. We love Jesus in our private lives, but we shrink from acknowledging the kingship of Christ in social life. When we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord of the Church and of the entire universe.
Prepare for Sunday
1. Pondering the story of the good thief, go to confession, get right with Jesus
2. Read the gospel story of the crucifixion, Luke 23 or John 19
3. Read Isaiah 53, written over 600 years before Christ, describing His passion and death
Let us pray:
O Father, we humbly come before You,
seeking to submit our hearts and lives to Christ the King.
May we surrender our will to His divine purpose,
trusting in His guidance and grace.
Help us to follow His example of love and humility,
that we may reflect His light in the world.
Strengthen our faith, O Lord,
as we embrace our calling as His faithful servants.
Amen