THE FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

Dear Parishioners,

This beautiful Feast of Christ the King marks the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. Next Sunday, we begin the Season of Advent.

Jesus asked: “What can I compare the Kingdom of God to – a mustard seed; a woman baking bread …” Images we would never have dreamt of. We hear further in our Preface of today’s Mass, the Kingdom of Heaven is – “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

And so to put further flesh on the bones of God’s kingdom, we can think of the following: The Kingdom of God is a space, a place and time where the love of God exists; in family homes where people love each other; in every place and parish where the weak, the vulnerable, the hungry and homeless are cared for.  God’s Kingdom is where injustice are corrected and overturned, where war is avoided and peace reigns. The Kingdom of God is being built up when people join together in the struggle to overcome poverty and educate the young and overcome ignorance. When we pass on the faith and promote Gospel values and ‘live simply so that others can simply life’, we are builders of the Kingdom of God.

Today, we hail Jesus Christ as our King and leader in all that is mentioned above for the promotion of God’s Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace. We are part of that kingdom when we try to walk and live in the light of the Gospel of Jesus.

Reflecting on the scriptures on this Feast: the Book of Samuel tells us how David became king of the united countries. His kingship prefigures the Universal kingship of Christ. St Paul in his letter to the Colossians reminds us of Jesus’ major role in the creation of all things and the head of all creation. In the Gospel, we see how the inscription over the cross on Calvary proclaims Jesus as a King. The irony is that the titles which are proclaimed in mockery are actually true. Jesus is both Messiah and King.

As we contemplate today’s feast, we realise that the last place you would look for a king would be hanging crucified on a cross between two thieves! Yet, this is the vision that Jesus lived and died by. All a contradiction to human power and esteem; Jesus’ crown was a crown of thorns. It is this suffering that has “brought us out of darkness into Christ’s own kingdom of light, as St Paul has said in our second reading.

Jesus is reminding us that life is not going to be without pain and suffering if we follow him. But it is through his suffering that we are saved. Let us unite all our suffering to his. Today we once again acclaim Jesus Christ is the King of our hearts and minds forever.   

Have a blessed week! Fr Joe