Catechism Links [1]
CCC 440, 446-451, 668-672, 783, 786, 908, 2105, 2628: Christ as Lord and King
CCC 678-679, 1001, 1038-1041: Christ as Judge
CCC 2816-2821: “Thy Kingdom Come”
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| “Christ the King” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 5:1-3
Commentary on 2 Sm 5:1-3
Within the historical books of 1 and 2 Samuel, this is one of the most important events. David is crowned King of Israel. From this anointing comes the later promise of a lasting dynasty (2 Samuel 7) from which royal messianism is developed. Within the context of the Solemnity of Christ the King, the theme of kingship reminds us of where the concept of the royal messiah, the king, had its roots in human understanding.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Psalm 122 is a song of thanksgiving centered upon returning to the Temple in Jerusalem. (Mosaic Law required such a trip three times in an individual's life.) The song rejoices in the visit to the holy place, the seat of King David. The original singers would have been rejoicing at returning to the one temple. For Christians, the new Jerusalem is the one and only house of God in his heavenly kingdom. There the Lord sits in judgment.
(#478) In these strophes the image of “going up to Jerusalem” echoes the Lord’s return in St. Paul’s quote of Psalm 68:18-19 in Ephesians 4:8.
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Reading II: Colossians 1:12-20
Commentary on Col 1:12-20
In the first part of this selection St. Paul reminds the Colossians that it is in Christ that we have redemption through the forgiveness of sins. We are given a place in the light, through him who is light itself.
The second part of the reading is a hymn fragment, probably familiar to the members of that faith community, that reminds them of the Lord’s preeminence (i.e. first-born of all creation, first-born from the dead, all things are reconciled in him). As his eternal status is reiterated, his kingship over all creation is recalled.
CCC: Col 1:12-14 1250; Col 1:13-14 517; Col 1:14 2839; Col 1:15-20 2641; Col 1:15 241, 299, 381, 1701; Col 1:16-17 291; Col 1:16 331; Col 1:18-20 624; Col 1:18 504, 658, 753, 343, 792; Col 1:20-22 2305
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Gospel: Luke 23:35-43
Commentary on Lk 23:35-43
Reference is made in this first part of the Gospel to the most grievous charge leveled against Jesus before Pilot. The Sanhedrin told the Proconsul that Jesus had claimed kingship over the Jews in opposition to the rule of Caesar. We recall that, at the head of the Cross, was a sign that read: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37)
In this part of the Passion from St. Luke’s Gospel, we hear the jeering of those in leadership because of what they perceived to be the Christ’s ironic fate. Even one of the two criminals begins to take up the insult, but is silenced by the other who seems to understand that the kingdom over which Jesus rules is not of this world, but rather it is the Kingdom of God.
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Reflection:
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The authors of the Roman Missal who prayerfully assembled the liturgy and readings for our common worship ended the year’s Sunday celebrations on this particular note suggesting that we have been building toward it for a full year. We have recalled the Lord’s nativity in our Advent and Christmas celebrations. We have remembered Christ’s struggle as our own in our Lenten observances. We have rejoiced in the Easter of our year, celebrating once more as Christ’s own resurrection brought us hope and joy. And in these past months we have looked at the life and teaching of Jesus, building our interior faith in him to this point.
Now we are ready. We proclaim Christ as king. He is king in the line of David, as we are reminded in the reading from the Second Book of Samuel. He is the promise God made to his people that the Messiah would come and rule forever in his kingdom. He was king before all time, first-born of all creation, one with the Father, in him all things are made, as St. Paul reminds his letter to the Colossians.
Finally, we are reminded of the cost of kingship as we visit Christ on the Cross. His human life is ebbing away while the people whom he came to save curse and jeer him. He recalls his Heavenly Kingdom and invites the repentant thief, who represents all of us, to join him in paradise.
The question we must ask ourselves today is: “Are we there yet?” Have we been able to internalize all these lessons to the point where Christ is our king? It will show in all of our attitudes. It will show in our attitudes toward others. Surely a servant of Christ the king of the universe would love each person they met as their king commanded. It would show in our attitudes towards “things.” The attitudes of the king’s followers would be less concerned with things than building the spirit within them.
Throughout time, great kings have had loyal subjects who have followed the example of their king. They have worn the king’s livery in battle, and they have laid down their lives for him. Are we there yet?
Pax
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The picture used today is “Christ the King” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
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