Christ the King - C (November 20, 2022)

 

Jesus – God Saves

Luke 23: 35-43

 

Three times, different group of people expressed their expectation that the Christ would save himself. 

 

They did not understand Jesus and his mission that he had been proclaiming to them. 

 

One person understood.  He was a criminal but he knew that Jesus, as his name indicates, had come to save others, not himself.  (This Archangel had proclaimed the name Jesus, “God saves” at the moment of the Incarnation in Luke 1: 31 and also Matthew 1:21).   

 

Jesus truly is the Savior of the world, and the King of the universe.  

 

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Christ, the King - B (November 21, 2021)

 

What Kingdom?

John 18: 33b-37

 

When Pilate asks Jesus “Then you are a king?”, Pilate has in his mind one kind of being kings and one kingdom – the Roman Empire that had conquered other peoples and nations by military power and force.  That was why Pilate could not understand Jesus.

 

Similarly, we might want to ask ourselves, “If Jesus is my king, then what kind of kingdom do I belong to?  And in my life, what type of a kingdom that I project to others?”

 

In today’s preface (the prayer before the Holy), we proclaim the kingdom of Jesus being “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

 

May we live each day as citizens of such a kingdom. 

 

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Christ the King - A (November 22, 2020)

 

“You Did for Me”

Matthew 25: 31-46

 

John Petty points out that in Matthew, Jesus began his preaching ministry declaring that those who are poor, who hunger, who mourn … are “blessed” (the Beatitudes in Chapter 5).  Now, Jesus goes even further.  He calls them “brothers of mine.”   He identifies himself with them. [1]

 

Consequently, in serving “the least,” we serve the King of the universe.

 

At the same time, this passage challenges us to reflect on the King who we present to others.  Jesus is clearly not a king who lords it over others with power and control.  Do we present and represent a Jesus Christ who identifies himself with the least brothers and sisters?

 

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[1] www.progressiveinvolvement.com

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Solemnity of Christ the King - B (November 25, 2018)

Christ’s Kingdom Does Not Belong to this World

John 18: 33b-37

The author of the Book of Revelation professes that Jesus Christ “has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.”  Jesus did that when he came to live in the world, then died and rose from the dead.

That kingdom is present in this world, but that “kingdom does not belong to this world” (Gospel).

In this time of the year, we can get caught up in shopping, in buying and selling.  We live in the world where people fight over influence, compete for popularity and fame, where jealousy, hatred, violence, and war have not been banished. 

Where are our priorities?  Am I building a kingdom in this world or Christ’s kingdom, which does not belong to this world?

 Image source:  Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Basilica of St. Peter's, Vatican

www.wikipedia.org

 

Solemnity of Christ the King - A (November 26, 2017)

Matthew 25: 31-46

The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Serving the Son of Man

In the Gospel According to Matthew, today’s parable of “the judgment of the nations” follows immediately “the parable of the talents” that we listened to a week ago.

In that context, one possible interpretation of today’s parable is that caring for others is a way of investing and making profit of what has been given to us. 

Sometimes, we may feel and use the excuse that the needs of the world or of others are so great, and we do not know if we can make a difference.  Remember, the servants were expected to simply work with what they have been given.

And taken the two parables together, it is quite clear that we meet and serve the one who has entrusted his possessions to us (first parable) and “the Son of Man” (second parable) in the least among us. 

May we learn how to share with others what has been generously given to us.

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Christ the King - C

Commentary

Luke 23:35-43

The King Who Saves Others

As Jesus is hung on the cross, three times, three different people/groups of people either tell Jesus to “save yourself” or expect him to save himself.

The three are the rulers, the soldiers, and one of the criminals.  They seem to be people who are familiar with this kind of expectation of any earthly king.

But this King’s mission is not to save himself.

In fact, from the very beginning, his identity as one who saves others was already given by the angel to Mary.  “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31).  This identity is further clarified by Matthew, “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The one criminal knows and trusts in this King as one who has come to save people like him.

What is my view of this King?

Christ the King - C (November 20, 2016)

Readings

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Christ the King - A

Commentary

Matthew 25: 31-46

Where is the King?  Who is the King?

This parable ends Matthew’s account of Jesus’ public teaching.  [1] (Jesus’ passion narrative begins with the following chapter).

Matthew begins his account of Jesus’ teaching with the summary of his message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17).

Jesus goes on to call “blessed” the poor, the hungry, the meek, …  because they are citizens of the Kingdom (“theirs is the kingdom of heaven”)(5:3). [2]

Now, as the conclusion of his teaching, Jesus goes further to identify himself, who sits on his glorious throne, with those who are poor, hungry, the prisoners, the strangers, etc.

 

Not only are these suffering people citizens of the kingdom, they are the King in the flesh. 

The mystery of Christ’s Incarnation continues.  Christ now lives among us in the poor, the hungry, the prisoners, the strangers….  In them lives the Emmanuel, God-with-us.  In them, His Kingdom is at hand. 

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[1] and [2].  John Petty, Blog.  Progressive Involvement at progressiveinvolvement.com

Solemnity of Christ the King - A (November 23, 2014)

Readings

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Christ the King - C

Commentary

Luke 23: 35 – 43

Jesus – God Saves

The verb “to save” appears four times in this passage.  Ironically, it is used all four times by those who oppose Jesus: the rulers, the soldiers, and the first of the two criminals crucified with him. 

The rulers acknowledge that Jesus “saved others.”  Probably unintentionally, they testified that Jesus had been true to his identity – the name Jesus means “God saves” [1].   However, they do not pronounce that name “Jesus.”

The soldiers and the criminal express the common expectation people have on a king – a king ought to save himself. 

Interestingly, only the one criminal addresses Jesus by his name [2].  He recognizes who Jesus truly is.

Jesus the King saves.  But he saves others.  

He has done so throughout his ministry.  He identifies his mission as “[coming] to seek and to save what was lost” [3].  And he continues to do that even to the end. 

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[1] In Matthew 1:21, “the angel of the Lord” announces the name” Jesus” and its meaning in instructing Joseph, “You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

[2] Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke, Sacra Pagina series.  Collegeville, MN, Liturgical Press, 1991; p. 378. 

[3] Luke 19: 10

Christ the King - C (November 24, 2013)

Readings

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