Today we celebrate The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our three readings for this celebration present us with three very different images of kingship. First, we have the very human King David. In his God-given job description David was expected to “shepherd my people Israel and … be commander of Israel” (2 Sam 5:2). David had all the attributes that people looked for in a leader. He was handsome, strong, brave and intelligent. David and his son, Solomon set the standard against which all other Kings of Israel were measured.
In his Letter to the Colossians St Paul gives us an image of the Resurrected Jesus in his glory. He presents Jesus as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:15-17). This is the image of a Divine king.
St Luke, however, presents us with an image of kingship that is tragic, painful and shocking. Our King, Jesus Christ, hangs on a cross between two criminals. Robed of all dignity, this king is sneered at, jeered and reviled. This is not the image of a king that most people expected in Biblical times or expect today. But Jesus on the cross is an eternal reminder of the profound love God has for us. This is a king who sacrificed his life for us. To many people in the world none of this makes any sense. In 1 Corinthians 1 St Paul wrote that the “message of the cross is foolishness” and a “stumbling block.” The good news for those of us deemed foolish is that “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor.:25).
And so, as we celebrate this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe we should remember that our king is the King of the lowly, the outcast and the poor. And that the first citizen of the Kingdom of Christ was a good thief!
God our Father, lover of people,
help us recognize our King
in Jesus crowned with thorns
and enthroned on a cross.
With him help us choose
love as our only power
and humble service as our only greatness.
May this be the way his kingdom grows among us,
until you lead us to your lasting joy.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
