The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - Fr. Leo
Today’s Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe marks the end of our liturgical year. Our first reading gives us a vision of Christ’s victory when he will triumph over sin and death and rule over all. The Kingdom will reign and sin will have ceased. It is this hope of faith we celebrate today.
Contrasting with our vision of heaven with the reality of the world we live in today, we see that the kingdom we long for is still coming, God is still saving the world, and there is no reason to think things are getting worse, even though the morning paper may indicate otherwise.
Big changes have taken place. The Berlin Wall fell and a one brave soul stood down tanks in Tiananmen Square. And recently, all the unrest we have lived through, may be the storm before the calm. So the reality of the Kingdom is, it is here, and not yet fully here.
We live in the tension of conversion as things slowly change. Our individual prayers and calling on the Holy Spirit is the most important contribution we can make to ease human tensions and bring about fraternal peace. Our prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit, changes us and changes the world. The transfiguration of Christ on the mountain, which foreshadows today’s celebration, is real and is transforming all things even in this very moment.
When the final victory comes, it may look a lot different than the victory we were hoping for. The disciples had to learn that Jesus’ victory was through death and resurrection, not through power and might, but with humility and love. Jesus said his kingdom does not belong to this world. His kingdom didn’t fit earthly understanding. This is why I think the use of the word “King” in naming this solemnity is a mistake.
Jesus became ruler of kings, but he is above the sad idea of king and kingdom that comes to our minds when we hear the word ‘king’. Rather, we celebrate the victory of humility and love. The greatest victory possible. A victory that is God’s gift to us as we share in his humility and love. And to know such love and humility is the experience of sharing in God’s divinity as God’s adopted Sons and Daughters. Let us pray for the gifts of humility and love that we may live in God as God desires to live in us through his Son in the gift of the Holy Spirit. One God, for ever and ever. Amen.