Christ the King, Year B

This weekend is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Next Sunday begins Advent in preparation for Christmas. Today, first, we will see Our Lord’s kingship in scripture. Then we will see how Jesus, our Eucharistic King, deserves respect and reverence and how we are to defend His kingdom and help bring about His kingdom.

In the first reading the prophet Daniel, who lived 500 years before Jesus’ birth, spoke about the future kingship of Jesus, especially with regard to Our Lord’s Second Coming. He said, “I saw one like the Son of Man on the clouds of heaven, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, that shall not be taken away and His kingship shall not be destroyed.”

The responsorial psalm, written by King David, who lived about 1000 years before Jesus was born describes the Kingship of Jesus. It states, “The Lord is king, He is robed in majesty.”

The second reading likewise speaks about the kingship of Jesus. It states “…Jesus is the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.”

Even before the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel announced Jesus would be a king. The angel said to Mary, “He will be given the throne of David” and “His kingdom will not end”. The Jews expected the Messiah to be a king, who would rule over the house of David forever and it was fulfilled in Jesus.

After Jesus was born, the wise men following the star, ended up before King Herod wondering, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” And they even prostrated themselves in adoration as they gave the infant Jesus gifts for a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Later when Jesus began His public ministry, He taught His followers to pray the Our Father, so His kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. At another time He said, “…the Kingdom of God is among you” and “the kingdom of God is within you.”

And there were times Our Lord gave parables to explain the kingdom, such as a mustard seed to explain the growth of His kingdom on earth. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey, the people laid palm branches on the ground which was customary when a king entered Jerusalem.

When our Divine Savior was arrested and brought before Pilate they told Pilate, “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ a king.” Pilate questioned Jesus about His Kingship. Pilate said, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And 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.” Then Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

When Pilate had Jesus scourged, the soldiers mocked Him as a king. They put a crown of thorns on Him in imitation of a king’s golden crown. They placed on Him a royal cloak and gave Him a scepter, which kings would use and they ridiculed His Kingship, saying “Hail King of the Jews.” And when Jesus was crucified, the sign above His head read, “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”. The good thief professed Our Lord’s kingship, when He said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of Father on His glorious throne. Today on earth, the kingdom of God is seen most clearly here in the Church. Every church is a temple of the Lord. The word “basilica” means kingdom. The King of Kings is in the temple, the basilica, the church in every tabernacle. When we come to church and leave church, we genuflect to the King in the Eucharist. During Mass we kneel and we do this because our faith tells us we are in the presence of the King of heaven and earth. We keel during the consecration because the King of Heaven and earth comes upon the altar. Before we receive Holy Communion, the Church requires everyone to show a sign of reverence, such as a bow of the head, the sign of the Cross or a genuflection and in some cases people receive Jesus in the Eucharist kneeling at altar rails.

Some receive Communion on the tongue and others on the hand. It is most reverent to receive the Eucharist on the tongue as an act of humility.

We should come often to the King at Mass to implore gifts from Him, for our loved ones who are ill and gifts for ourselves to help us endure the crosses of life. In response, Jesus, the King bestows them with generosity and love to all who come to His throne.

In the Old Testament, the king’s mother was the queen. That’s why the mother of Jesus is considered a queen. Some approach the queen for a favor because they are afraid to directly ask the king who may deny their request and they know the king is more apt to answer the queen’s prayers. And She will do it with tenderness, love, eloquence, and the persistence of a mother.

That is what we should do too. Come to the queen of heaven and earth, and She will ask the King for whatever we need.

Our sins cause the King of Heaven to be crucified, to endure His Passion. But we have the opportunity of treating the King of Heaven and Earth with love, respect and reverence, by the way we treat others, the way we treat our self and the way we treat Jesus in the Eucharist.

We deeply offend and hurt the King when we commit mortal sin. But Jesus is the King of Mercy and desires we come to the throne of His mercy in Confession. If we wonder why our prayers aren’t answered, it may be because we are in the state of mortal sin and Jesus won’t answer our prayers, until we are first reconciled with Him by asking for Him to pardon us. We can block graces that Jesus wants to give us, if have a grudge and fail to forgive someone. But, once we forgive and go to Confession, allowing Jesus the King of mercy to forgive us, the graces flow from the Heart of the King into our measly heart.

We should prepare to receive Jesus in Communion by going to confession monthly, seeking His clemency and His mercy. This way, when he comes into the temple of our heart, He will have a worthy throne to rest.

We can also make our home fit for a king, by allowing Jesus to be the Lord of our life, our family and our job and not be afraid to be a soldier in the king’s army. We are to defend the King and His kingdom.

Blessed Miguel Pro, whose feast day is Nov. 23^rd, was a priest, He served underground Catholics in a time of persecution in Mexico by secretly hearing confessions, offering Mass and driving his bicycle all over Mexico City to give out Communion because the Mass and the sacraments were forbidden. By giving out the sacraments, Fr. Miguel helped bring about God’s kingdom in the hearts of those who went to Confession and received Holy Communion. He was eventually captured and just before the firing squad shot him, with outstretched arms, he shouted, “Vivi Christo Rey.” “Long live Christ the King.”

About a month ago, during a political rally, Luke Polaske and Grant Beth, two students at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse, yelled, “Christ is King” and “Jesus is Lord” to a politician who was promoting abortion. The two were then pushed, shoved and cursed. As they were being escorted out of the rally, the politician waved at them and said, “You guys are at the wrong rally.” These young men were not afraid of defending Jesus, the King and they were willing to suffer as Jesus suffered. It also revealed the disdain that some politicians have for Christianity.

We are called to worship, honor and adore to Jesus in the Eucharist-- as the King of heaven and earth and we are called to help bring about God’s kingdom, by defending the King and His kingdom and helping it to grow by making more disciples and proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.

May the Virgin Mary, the mother of the King, the Queen of heaven and earth give us a true love and reverence for the King, and may His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.