Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
When Samuel was sent to anoint David as king so many years earlier, David was shepherding his father’s flocks (1 Sm 16). Now he is invited to shepherd the people. The tribes of the south in Judah already accepted David as king. Now the northern tribes of Israel, once loyal to King Saul, come to accept David as king. They admit that even when Saul ruled over them, it was really David who led them out for battle and brought them back again. It was Saul’s jealousy over David’s skills as a leader that delayed things. Of course, David’s success was due to his close relationship with God. This was something Saul would never learn to appreciate or accept. The designation of Jesus in the Gospel reading as “king of the Jews” is more than a little ironic. In his own lifetime, one cannot imagine Jesus referring to himself as a king. He did not live in the midst of royalty. He had no armies and did not rule with great power. Instead, he was crucified by the Roman establishment, accused of being a political insurrectionist. But looked at through the eyes of faith, Jesus was indeed the king of the Jews.
If you are king of the Jews. Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus hanging on the cross receiving ridicule and abuse from rulers and soldiers mocking the idea that he could be the king of the Jews. The text is constructed around two “if” clauses contrary to fact. “If he is the chosen one, the Christ of God,” and “If you are king of the Jews . . . .” The conviction is that Jesus definitely is not the chosen one and most definitely not the king of the Jews. Ironically, however, the inscription above Jesus’ head has it right: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Two criminals. The first criminal joins with those ridiculing and abusing Jesus. He has no faith in Jesus and his biggest disappointment is that Jesus will not somehow magically save everyone, especially the criminal himself. The second criminal is the antithesis of the first. He reprimands the mockery of the first criminal and then expresses his conviction that Jesus is innocent of the charges against him. Then the second criminal moves his conviction about Jesus’ innocence into the realm of faith when he asks to be remembered when Jesus enters his kingdom. He sees through the eyes of faith that Jesus is indeed a king, and his request is granted.
What kind of king is Jesus? The Gospel makes it clear that Jesus is not a king as the secular world would understand that designation. Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, but where Jesus reigns as king. He exercises his kingship not by ruling over people, amassing great power, and conquering many lands. His kingship is all about serving. He serves by giving his life away. By giving away his life, he offers salvation to all who can believe in him. His royal throne is a cross and his crown is made of thorns. But unlike any secular king, Christ the king will reign forever.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius