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Christ the King deserves our praise, obedience, and adoration

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, November 25, 2012, The Solemnity of Christ the King | Carl E. Olson

Readings:
• Dan 7:13-14
• Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5
• Rev 1:5-8
• Jn 18:33b-37

“Would Jesus feel at home among the opulence of The Vatican?” The question was put to me recently after I’d written defending the Church’s ownership of cathedrals, churches, and artwork.

My article, in turn, was in response to remarks made by a professional baseball player—a fallen away Catholic, it turns out—who had visited the Sistine Chapel and later remarked to a reporter: “They could sell all those things, auction them off and probably feed half that world's starving population. There is that much wealth stored in the Sistine Chapel. For it just to be sitting there I think is a crime.”

There are numerous flaws with such myopic thinking, including the athlete failing to recognize that no other Christian group in the world operates as many charitable organizations, orphanages, schools, hospitals, hospices, and shelters as does the Catholic Church. And what about his multi-million dollar contract, paid for by fans coming to watch grown men throw and hit baseballs in huge, expensive stadiums?

Yet, if the stadiums and the teams were sold, what then? Are sporting events evil? Is it wrong to make a good living being an athlete? Of course not.

Which brings up a point directly related to this great feast day: cathedrals, churches, and works of art were created over the course of many centuries as essential features of the Church's worship of Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings. Today’s reading from the opening chapter of The Apocalypse describes Jesus as “the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.” If Jesus really is God, he deserves our praise; if he is King of all, he deserves our obedience; if he is the Alpha and Omega, he deserves our adoration.

Sacrosanctum concilium, Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, observed that “the fine arts are considered to rank among the noblest activities of man's genius … These arts, by their very nature, are oriented toward the infinite beauty of God which they attempt in some way to portray by the work of human hands; they achieve their purpose of redounding to God's praise and glory in proportion as they are directed the more exclusively to the single aim of turning men's minds devoutly toward God.” (par 122). Man was created out of God’s overflowing love, and man returns that love by expressing his love for the Lord, who is king and “robed in majesty,” through prayers, words, songs, art, and architecture.

Ultimately, the cathedrals and statues and artwork belong to the King. This is all the more meaningful when considering that the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ—is kept in the houses of God. Sure, the Eucharist could be kept in a closet or a gymnasium, but is that any way to show respect and love for the King?

Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” Some Christians have mistakenly thought this means they should have no part of churches, vestments and artwork. But it should be understood in light of the Incarnation, which Jesus referred to a moment later, saying, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”

The Son was not of this world, yet he came into the world. He had no beginning, but was born a babe in a manger. He was all-powerful, yet suffered and died. And when he rose from the dead and ascended to the Father, he did not shed his humanity. He is standing in heaven—the Lamb, human and divine, “as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6)—surrounded by cherubim and elders singing ceaseless praise.

In other words, Christ’s Kingdom does not belong to the world, but his Church—the “seed and beginning of this kingdom” (CCC 567)—is in the world. And it is growing, mysteriously, not through bloodshed, tyranny, or coercion but through the body and blood of the King, through truth, and through conversion.

(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in the November 22, 2009, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)

Regnum Christi

A Question of Kingdoms

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Solemnity of Christ the King

Father Edward Hopkins, LC

John 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "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."

Introductory Prayer: Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truth itself; that you are the foundation of all moral judgments. I trust that you really care for me and give me the light to see the needs of others. I love you, Lord, and show it now with my desire to pray.

Petition: Make your truth my life, Lord!

1. Asking My Own Questions: Every day we form countless judgments. Often they seem based more on what others have said, than on what we know. We are often told what to think by the media, government and even coworkers. Pilate was one of those whose judgment was based on what others had said. His question to Jesus was that of a functionary; not of someone sincerely seeking the truth. Jesus sensed this weakness and confronted him. Pilate’s excuse was that he was not Jewish, so how could he hope to understand? I will be judged one day on how I judged. How fair, how sincere and really how interested am I in others? Do I treat those in my life as though I really cared?

2. Jesus Stands above This World: Pilate’s verbalized thoughts and the accusations of the Sanhedrin against Jesus come from this world. It is a world where people, once accused, are already judged; where most judgments remain hidden but still assassinate the person through actions and omissions; where “what others think of you” seems to matter most. Jesus does not belong to the ways of human respect. Nor can human respect even begin to judge him. He answers to God alone, just as he lives only to please his Father. Do I belong to this world? What kind of grip does this world have on me? How do its judgments affect my behavior?

3. Belonging to the Kingdom of Truth: What is relative can never judge what is absolute, just as changing seasons do not define human nature. Only a judgment from what is absolute can determine real values for all. Just before being elected Pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger exposed the world’s imposition of subjective personal values, calling it a “a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one´s own ego and desires” (Homily, April 18, 2005). In the same homily he juxtaposed this relativistic “truth” to friendship with Christ. Real friendship with Christ is our single guiding light, and it requires that we subject to him all other guides: our ego, our own feelings and our selfish desires. His ways, love and truth replace self-seeking. In which kingdom do I live?

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my king and your kingdom is truth. Form my mind to know all things in relation to you. Form my heart to judge all people in relation to your love. Free me from the deceptions of pride, human respect and self-love. May only your love reign in my heart!

Resolution:This week I will reject all internal judgments of others that are based on hearsay. I will replace them with prayers for those persons, giving them the benefit of the doubt and entrusting them to the care of the King.

Christ the King

by Food For Thought on November 25, 2012 ·

Reading 1 Dn 7:13-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

Today’s feast is quite unique. We proclaim Christ as our King. Most of the kings we read about in history are not ideal leaders. Majority of them are even tyrants. As the British statesman, Lord Acton puts it, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Today’s only kings are ceremonial figures such as the king of England or the king of Sweden. Monarchy and kingdoms ruled by kings with absolute power as a political system are a thing of the past.

However, we continue to cherish the notion of king itself, purified of its political meaning of absolute power. Today, we speak of kings and queens in the context of beauty pageant and fiestas, or to signify excellence in beauty or quality of certain products. It is as if we could not give up the idea that somehow, when someone has reached a certain level of excellence, he is considered a king. In other words, we have transposed the notion of royalty from politics to economics, finance, entertainment, fashion, sports, etc. In all these areas of life, we give the title king spontaneously to a person who is supreme, or highly successful in some field or to something supreme in its class.

The reason for the obstinate use of the term “king,” when there are no more kings around, is probably that deep inside our hearts, we are still searching for a real king – that is, for someone, who would finally deserve to be our king, because precisely he would be “supreme in his class,” – a real role model. We yearn for someone we could trust absolutely. We long for a king, who would wield absolute power without ever abusing it. In other words, we dream of a man who would be utterly trustworthy, who would be utterly loving, wise, understanding, and good.

Today’s Gospel reading shows forth such a man. He is Jesus of Nazareth. He fulfills all the conditions of an ideal king.

First of all, he is king by birth and origin, being the very Son of God.

Secondly, he can never be dethroned or impeached, since he now reigns at the right hand of God forever.

Thirdly, his power can never be tyrannical, because it is not imposed; it is merely proposed, not imposed to anyone who wants to accept it freely.

Fourthly, his power is based only on self-sacrificial love.

Consequently, this king has no armed forces, no political party, no propaganda machine, no Department of Dirty Tricks, no police, no judiciary, and no prison. His only weapon, if we may call it such, is truth – that is, the revelation of what God is, a loving Father for all of mankind. As Jesus himself says, “The reason I was born, the reason why I came into the world, is to testify to the truth.” And because of this, he can only appeal to those who are interested in the truth – those, who have committed their lives to honesty in all its forms, to righteousness, to fidelity. That is why Jesus says, “Anyone committed to the truth hears my voice.”

When Jesus was saying these words, he was standing in judgment before Pontius Pilate, looking in Pilate’s eyes, appealing for him to choose the truth. Pilate did not. Instead of listening to the voice of his conscience, the voice of truth, he chose to silence Jesus and his
conscience by condemning Jesus to death. But Jesus rose from the dead and now speaks to each one of us. And each one of us must decide for himself or herself whether or not Jesus is his or her king.

Now, that is a crucial decision, and a difficult one. For Jesus warns us, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Naturally, Jesus wants to reign in this world, that is, in every area of life (business,
politics, social affairs, education, entertainment, sports, etc.). But he wants to reign through our free acceptance of his values, not through the means of the world (money, power, fame, violence, hatred, lust, and oppression). To choose him as my king means that we give up making ourselves the center of things and that, instead, we make him the center of things. Do I want him to be my king day after day, at work, in my family, at school, in my recreational activities, in my
business? Today Jesus is looking straight into my eyes and asking me, “Do you want me to be your king?” What shall I answer him?

Each one of us is in the process of deciding whether we’ll accept God’s love or reject it. Each one of us is in the process of deciding whether we’ll live happily with God forever and ever. The choice is yours. How will your story end?

Christ the King

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. on November 23, 2012 ·

From the dawn of civilization, kings have arisen who have dreamed of possessing a world-wide dominion, a universal kingdom that would last forever. Some have come close to conquering much of the known world–Alexander, Genghis Khan, Augustus Caesar, and Adolf Hitler, to name a few. And some kingdoms have lasted a very long time, such as Rome whose Eastern half lingered on for 2000 years.

But despite all their machinations, pretensions, and self-glorifying monuments, the great rulers of the earth all proved mortal like anybody else. The had their day in the sun only to disappear. Their kingdoms, too, ultimately passed away, leaving abundant ruins for generations of tourists and archeologists to explore.

There is another thing that these great ones of the earth had in common–they jealously guarded their glory, sharing it with no one. Their ascent to the pinnacle of power was made over the backs of others, and they did not hesitate to eliminate any and all rivals.

This Sunday’s feast celebrates the fact that there is one who is remarkably different. He came to serve all, even his enemies. He truly was a Son of Man, with a vulnerable human nature. But he was also truly Son of God. Not in some mythological sense, like the Pharaohs, or the wishful-thinking sense, like the Caesars, but really and truly, the Immortal, the Eternal, taking the form of a mortal man in a specific time in history.

Rather than executing his opponents, he forgave them. Rather than dominating his subjects, he exalted them. He even called them not servants, but friends, and bestowed on them a share in his own priesthood and kingship. Though he died, like other kings, it was for a different purpose than Augustus in his bed or Hitler in his bunker. He died willingly to save his people, and his death was not a result of a battle lost or a plan gone awry, but of a glorious victory planned before the world began.

He rose in glory, which can’t be said for the rest of them. And at his heavenly coronation, when he ascended to his Father, he was given what all the rest lusted for–a worldwide dominion that will not pass away.

But the world goes on oblivious, with corporate executives and statesmen still jockeying for position, exalting themselves at the expense of others. Still others crowd the cover of People magazine competing for other glories like the King of Rock’n roll.

The true King, however, is biding his time. He will return and suddenly things will be seen as they truly are. His coming will sweep away ambition, vanity, and pretensions, and much of what now appears important will look very empty. No longer will oppression be allowed to stand; the innocent will finally be liberated from those who victimize them.

This dominion will truly be universal–there will be nowhere left where he is not recognized as Who He is, though in some quarters, that acknowledgment will be made with consternation and gloom.

For his coming means doom. . . judgment for those who have for so long resisted him. They will be allowed, of course, to cling to the evil that they have chosen, and hold it close to themselves for all eternity. But they may no longer afflict others with it.

This judgment, this kingdom, will have the last word. No election will overturn it in four years or four million years. There is no one stronger who can rest the dominion from his Almighty hand.

The Church instituted this feast of Christ the King during bleak days, when fascist and communist clouds were darkening the earth with their ominous shadow. The feast serves as a reminder to us that we know the end of the story and should not be fooled by the braggarts who strut and the bullies who gloat. They’ll be gone soon. And He’ll be here soon. How soon no one knows.

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, November 25, 2012 >>

Christ the King

Daniel 7:13-14
Revelation 1:5-8
View Readings

Psalm 93:1-2, 5
John 18:33-37

"ON YOUR OWN"

"Are you saying this on your own, or have others been telling you about Me?" —John 18:34

Jesus was put to death on the cross because He claimed to be the King of the Jews. Since that was Jesus' crime, it was inscribed in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek above His head on the cross (Jn 19:19-20).

On the feast of Christ the King, are you saying "on your own" (Jn 18:34) that Jesus is King or are you just observing the traditions of the Church by reading, praying, and singing "King-things" out of the missalette or songbook? If you are accepting "on your own" that Jesus is the King, you will be rejected and persecuted as He was. Because Jesus is not just a king but the King of kings (see Rv 1:5), He and His followers are a threat to all other kings and rulers, unless these acknowledge His supremacy. Therefore, He was crucified, and His subjects share in His sufferings (see Phil 3:10).

To celebrate today's feast day without hypocrisy, to truly accept Jesus as King, you must love Him enough to live and die for Him by giving everything to purchase the precious pearl of His kingdom (Mt 13:44, 46). Will you celebrate Christ the King on your own, or will you merely mouth what others tell you to say?

Prayer: King Jesus, I live and die for love of You alone.

Promise: "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, His kingship shall not be destroyed." —Dn 7:14

Praise: "Sing praise to our King, sing praise. For the King of all the earth is God, sing praise" (Ps 47:7-8). Praise Jesus, enthroned forever as King!

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