Every year, the Church celebrates the feast of Christ the King to acclaim the Lord the King. He is King, not only of the world but the whole cosmos, seen and unseen, and will reign for ever. He is King even before the dawn of creation, for all times and ages belong to him. That is to say that his Kingdom has no end. Angel Gabriel even proclaimed that to Mary at the Annunciation. He said to her: ‘the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end’ (Lk 1:32-33). The proclamation demonstrates the two natures of Christ: the nature of man and of God. The ‘throne of his ancestor’ portrays the royalty of his linage (human nature) and his kingdom not ending – the eternality of his kingship (the nature of God).
CHRIST’S ROYALTY LINEAGE
The first reading from the 2nd Book of Samuel highlights the desire of the people of Israel for David to be their king and his anointing. Thus ‘all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said: Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel’ (2 Sam 5:1). God confirmed their desire and choice when he said to him: ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel’ (2 Sam 5:2). His being prince over Israel confirms his lineage and royalty. Hence, they made covenant with David before the Lord and anointed him king over Israel.
David was charismatic and his reign was exceptionally splendid. After the death of Saul, the Northern kingdom appealed to him to be their king too. He accepted and became the king of both the Southern and Northern kingdom. David made tremendous difference as king and has been reviled as the greatest king that ruled Israel.
That notwithstanding, biblical scholars have it that it was to David that the promises of God’s eternal monarchy were given which was to be fulfilled in Christ Jesus and the promises were the basis of hope for the people of Israel.
CHRIST’S ETERNAL KINGSHIP
Christ is the King of kings because of whom he is. He is the Son of the Most High God. The angel at annunciation confirmed that to Mary that the kingdom of her son will never end. That means his kingdom is eternal, and the sacred scripture testifies that Christ ‘is the same yesterday, today and forever’ (Heb. 13: 8). His kingdom will never end because he reigns supreme over it and every other kingdom. The preface of the feast of today describes Christ’s kingdom with eternal realities as ‘a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace’. These characteristics bear witness to the eternal kingship of Christ.
Again, the kingship of Christ is in his personality. St Paul testifies to that in the second reading. He identifies Christ as ‘the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, …all things were created through him and for him’ (Col: 1:13 -14). The testimony of Paul confirms the divine kingship of Christ.
CHRIST’S KINSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED AT CRUCIFIXION
In the Gospel of today, Jesus is acknowledged as king by the leaders, soldiers and even by the criminals crucified with him. The leaders and soldiers mocked him saying: ‘He save others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One! (Lk 23: 35). By mocking him as Savior of others, they acknowledged him as one. They offered him sour wine and said: ‘if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself (Lk 23: 24). Ironically again, they acknowledged him as king. He died on the cross and bequeathed everything he had, his love and life to us. He gave us all that a person can give to another. ‘No one has greater love than to lay down his for his friends’ (cf Jn 15:13)
Over his head on the cross, Pilate put the inscription: ‘the King of the Jews’ (Lk 23: 24); a testimony that he is a king. Although that limited his kingship to the Jews alone, but his kingship is over and beyond the Jews as his kingdom has no territorial boundaries. He is the universal and eternal king which one of the criminals crucified with him acknowledged at the most critical time of his life as he appealed to him to remember him in his kingdom. And Jesus said to him: ‘today you will be with me in paradise’ (Lk 23:43). That paradise is the kingdom and eternal abode of Christ.
THE REIGN OF CHRIST
Jesus reigns everywhere as king. He started reigning from time immemorial, the dawn of creation and would continue for ever. He reigns in the hearts of men and women. He reigns only with his supreme law of love. As such, those who accept his kingship must live in love and be committed to him.
CONCLUSION
Christ is king with a difference. His kingship is not like the kings of the world who use their power, influence and resource to favor themselves, family and friends. He is the king of justice, love, peace and truth. We therefore need to stand on the truth with him even when it is difficult. We need to live out his kingdom in love and justice. By the feast of Christ the King, we are called to acclaim Christ as our Lord and king.
[Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43]
