Rev. Fr. JohnPaul ANIWODO

     Jesus once taught us to pray in the quiet of our inner rooms, in the secrecy of our hearts. Yet today, we not only lift our prayers to Him in public, but we also boldly proclaim Him before the world as Christ, the King of the Universe. Jesus is the King of all. ‘He embraces all men’. Pope Leo XIII: says Christ’s "empire includes not only Catholic nations, not only baptized persons who, though of right belonging to the Church, have been led astray by error, or have been cut off from her by schism, but also all those who are outside the Christian faith; so that truly the whole of mankind is subject to the power of Jesus Christ." for there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

     Seeing the backdrop and the result of the growing Secularism, atheism and the totalitarian regimes who were demanding ultimate loyalty; and because Pius XI saw that society was gradually dethroning Christ, replacing Him with ideologies, politics, and materialism; He promulgated The Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe in order to reassert Christ’s authority over every human heart and every nation. To that He says,

“…We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord.”

     The kingship of Christ all began with the Evangelist’s account of the angel’s annunciation to Mary, where the angel said to her "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:30-33)

     The first reading gives us an account of how all the tribes of Israelite came together recognizing that, David was one of them both in ‘bone and in flesh’ and they requested that he becomes their king. So too Jesus who continues the reign after David came in human flesh though not conquer nations like David did but to conquer hearts of men and bring them out of darkness into his kingdom.

     Before David was pronounced as a King, they reminded him how God chose him to be a shepherd and a prince over them… this foretold the kingship of David. David’s kingship was that of service to the people and to God. Similarly, Jesus’ kingdom by the power of God is one characterized by Service rooted in Mercy and love. And these were inherited by those who accepted him and He “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. And the result of this inheritance is that “He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”. Col. 1:12.

     Beloved in Christ, on this day when we celebrate Christ as King, it is important to note that the hallmark of the kingship and kingdom of Jesus won’t be complete and distinct from others without the Cross. This seems a little bit off, since we are expected to speak about the splendor and beauty of his kingdom; but the gospel gives us a dramatic account of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. There is no crown of gold, but a crown of thorns; there is no throne, but a cross. There is no entourage of courtiers, but jeering soldiers, mocking onlookers and two criminals by his two sides. These men are guilty of the crimes they are been punished for. However, one of them said to Jesus, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.’ This comment and request depicts the unrepentant heart of this thieve more importantly, it show how greedy and envious he is. And how irresponsible he could be if he had power.

 Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well. In other words, "If I had that power of yours, that power which you claim as the Messiah, I would use it differently than to hang helplessly on a tree. I would step down from the Cross, smite my enemies, and prove what power really is." Thus Envy reveals that if it had the gifts which it envies in others it would misuse them, as the thief on the left would have surrendered redemption from sin for release from a nail. In like manner many in the world today who are envious of wealth would probably lose their souls if they had that wealth. Envy never thinks of responsibilities. Looking only to self, it misuses every gift that comes its way.”- Fulton sheen

     The other thief would rather die a criminal but ask to be in Jesus’ paradise. He knew Jesus had the power, he only needed to ask for a greater thing; that is, to be with Jesus in Paradise. And this was immediately granted to him. By this, the thief was transferred from the looms of darkness into the kingdom of light through the forgiveness of his sins. Coll.1:13 His request gave him everlasting life.

     The kingship of Jesus shows His power and authority, which He expresses through mercy, justice, and love. His kingdom is not a physical place you can point to. Rather, wherever mercy, love, and justice are lived and received, there the kingdom of Jesus is already present. And This Kingdom was revealed on the cross, when Jesus showed mercy to the repentant thief and welcomed him into Paradise.

Remember that, the King’s aim is to transfer us from the domain of darkness into His kingdom… col 1:13 because the king’s desire is ‘…mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." And only the hearts that are open to receive His mercy will get it.

May our hearts be open to the reign of Jesus, as the King of the world and the King of our lives. Amen