The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Posted by Bob Kenward on November 16, 2008
Prepare for Mass -Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Last Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A – 11/23/2008
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The final Sunday in Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. It is an opportunity to reflect on that line in the Apostles Creed that says “He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, he will come again to judge the living and the dead”.
To envision God as king and ruler of the universe is difficult especially when our own tendency is to do what is right by us. Whatever we think is right reigns supreme. That other person can believe what he or she wants. That’s their truth. Respect that. Don’t tread on me. I don’t really need to participate in an institutionalized religion placing boundaries and restrictions on me by attempting to make me follow ideals that I don’t believe in. I’ll be alright as long as I find my own way to happiness and if I am a good person as I define that to be, all is well. I will be fine as king of myself and the other person can be king of his own self.
Unfortunately, that line of thinking proves to be fatally flawed. It may be very logical to us at a superficial level. But, if we dig deep, even if we look at our own personal experiences, we start to realize that all our actions good and bad have reactions that affect not only ourselves but a lot of people that we have a relationship with in society. Since we all are reliant on other people, we all have a relationship at some level with our neighbor.
We make judgements based on what we believe to be true. Others make judgements on what they believe to be true. If we all are kings ruling over ourselves, when justice is called for, the arbitrator becomes the court of public opinion based on human experience which as we all know is imperfect. This is how we see things at a human level.
Our life of faith passed down from prior generations directs us towards the supernatural. Our Faith calls us to believe in an unseen creator of the universe whose story unfolds in the heart of mankind as communicated by God to his people through revelation.
If God is king he has to rule over a kingdom. Whose kingdom is it? The kingdom is not ours, it is His. If we choose to participate in this kingdom, God will reign as our king and he will judge us in the end as good and faithful, not perfect and faithful – not without ever messing up. But in humility we recognize our imperfections and remain faithful to a God who is first faithful to us. We know that his judgements are based on something bigger than ourselves. His judgements are solid. But what if we don’t want all that? In that case his justice allows our free will to reign and we’ll get what we wanted (not what He wanted for us), a life without God. What a terrible existence this will be for all eternity. That’s real.
There is comfort in knowing the source of true love is perfect and our ability to love is not possible without participating in the kingdom of God. Where is this kingdom and how do I arrive at this place? It is in His Church. We all our born to be members of this kingdom whether we know it or not and God is shepherding us ever so gently into the fold while we still have the chance to decide our fate by acting on our free will. Jesus will hand the kingdom off to the Father at the end of time when he comes in glory after we are judged individually at the time of our deaths, the Final Judgement will come in which God will triumph over the revolt of evil, after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world.
