But what kind of king, exactly?
We celebrate this week the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and our first reading from the Book of Daniel aptly prophesies one like a Son of man who will receive dominion, glory, and honor, while Psalm 93 speaks of a king robed in majesty. But what kind of power does Christ our King wield? In fact, the Lord wants not so much to wield power over us as to release power within us – the power of his love and mercy that we are called to share with our world. The dominion to which Daniel refers is in fact a responsibility to care for, rather than to lord over. Thus, the one like a Son of man will rule justly by calling forth love and mercy from within the people of God.
In John’s Gospel, Pilate has his own idea of what a king should look like, and it certainly has nothing to do with the shackled man who stands before him. Pilate’s question to Jesus, Are you the King of the Jews? is meant as mockery. But Pilate does not realize that Jesus’ kingdom is unlike any Pilate has known; my kingdom is not here, Jesus replies. Jesus’ kingdom is grounded not in taking but in giving, and will be ushered in with his death and rising, when he frees us from our sins by his blood, making us into a kingdom, as the Book of Revelation reminds us. It is when he sacrifices himself entirely that Christ enjoys true dominion. The kingdom of Christ our King, King of the Universe, is not of this world, though it is in our hearts whenever we are open to it; that kingdom will win people over by love alone, a love that rules our hearts, a love we come together every week to celebrate.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King, 2018.
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