Christ the King

We are praying toward our last Sunday of the liturgical year, which is also known as Christ the King Sunday. The First Sunday of Advent follows which is the beginning all over again of our being attracted to Jesus, by Jesus and with Jesus

In the days of Jesus, to be lord meant the one who owns the persons and all the properties of that person or those persons. To be lord of the land was to have it all. Jesus is Lord, King, but we resist being dominated - hmmm, or do we! In each person there is a spirit or spirits which vye for the director’s chair and hat. So Jesus is Lord in His mind and heart, but not totally in ours; face it, this is what the spiritual life is all about. We belong to Him, but we do not allow this kingship into our lives, except slowly and occasionally. In the early days of the founding colonies, there was quite a spirited debate about just what to call the leader, George Washington, officially. The founders did not want to do anything with royalty. President was not the first title forwarded. Excellency was tried on, (imagine that one fitted on our nation’s leaders). So many international wars have all been about who would be king or ruler. That war wages within each of us and our little forces within us hate to lose, even to the King of the Universe.

The Gospel has several key aspects, but the main one is about the collision of two forms of king and kingdom. “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” Pilate’s does. Here is the twist. This world is His Kingdom, but it does not belong, or is owned or dominated by the ways of this world. John has Pilate prophetically say to Jesus that he is a king and Jesus kind of says, “Amen,You said it buster.”

The ending of this Gospel is a strong hint of John’s view of Jesus and His acceptance by some and not others. Jesus came to speak the truth, which He does in the presence of Pilate. This truth stands itself and needs no defense, which Jesus offers simply. Those who hear His voice, that is, those within the community of John’s disciples, trust the truth of Who He is and who they are in Him. Jesus as well as His followers need not apologize for their possession of the Truth, they have heard His voice and live within its power. Those who have not listened are in the dark and need to be defensive.

Advent begins next week and likewise we begin to face once more the call of God to allow ourselves to be loved and by that love more available to live His ways of reverence, generous availability and non-apologetic graciousness.