24th NOVEMBER 2024

34th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A (Solemnity of Christ the King),  November 22, 2020-"The Eternal King-Shepherd " -


SUNDAY, THIRTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe

 

Dn 7: 13-14                Ps 93: 1-2, 5               Rv 1: 5-8                     Jn 18: 33-37


 

SEEK YE THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 

God created the universe for his own glory, to display his power and wisdom, and to reveal his identity. We are taught that humans are to know, love, serve and be with our Creator God for ever. God created the universe for his own pleasure so that humans could enjoy all that he created. Today’s celebration is about this original purpose of creation, where God would be God and we being God’s children enjoy his love and life.

 

The Feast titled “Our Lord Jesus Christ the King” was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, in response to growing modern secularism and narrow nationalism. He proclaimed that the best way to defeat socio-political injustice was by acknowledging the kingship of Christ, emphasizing the authority of God on our personal and social lives. Pope Paul VI amended the title of the Feast to “Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe”. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. He did not come to be served by his power as Son of God but to give all of Himself for others to save them. This is Jesus’ kingship.

 

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”(Mt 6:33). John the Baptist’s urgent invitation to repent is to enter into a new beginning as re-echoed by Jesus’ pronouncement of a new era that had arrived (Mt 4:17). Since the kingdom of God consists of all of the universe over which God reigns, now Jesus emphasizes that such kingdom has already arrived in his own person. The Jews were expecting God’s messianic kingdom. The birth of Jesus is the beginning of that kingdom, ruled by God’s appointed Messiah, who will be not just the socio political liberator of people, but their King. The kingdom of God was near to them because the King of the kingdom was there. When He came, Jesus inaugurated God’s kingdom. He did not consummate it, but He started it. And when He ascended into heaven, He went there for His coronation, for His investiture as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

So Jesus’ kingship is in the seat of the highest cosmic authority. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to God’s anointed Son (ref. Mt 28:18). Therefore, King Herod, the ruler of this earthly territory was terrified at the birth of the Messiah. Also, when Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” he was indicating that His kingdom was something spiritual that takes place in our hearts. Pilate grew uncertain of continuing to be in power and decided not to hear from Jesus about the truth, knowing that the truth might disturb his authority. Christ’s presence will disturb all our earthly powers and worldly ambitions.

 

The King of the Universe, interpreted as King of Everything, a title of great prestige claiming domination of the universe used by powerful monarchs and rulers. Jesus makes the purpose of his coming to the world clear: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45) so that we may have life, and have it to the full (ref. Jn 10:10). In this sense, this Solemnity highlights that Jesus Christ, the King, is the destination of our earthly pilgrimage.

 

The Good News of Salvation is that the righteous go to eternal life (Mt 25:31-46). However, this state of being right with God comes through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The Gospel tells “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3). We are invited to recognize Jesus in the face of each brother and sister. Along this journey, the liturgy instructs us how to recognize the Lord present in everyday life and to prepare us for His final coming. It is worth reminding ourselves that the King of the Universe, Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’ gave the great assurance: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). It is within this frame that we should read the “Universal Judgment”

 

Today’s liturgy invites us to contemplate, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, is specially giving us numerous occasions to recognize Him present and active in our day-to-day lives if we follow in His footsteps, cultivate His own concern and desire to save and serve humanity.

 


Response: The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.


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