Is Christ Your King?
34th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”Ps. 122
Today we celebrate Christ the King. It is worth pondering what this means. Christ thus expressed it to Pilate:
“you say so, I am a king… but my kingdom is not of this world.”Cf. John 18,36ff.
“Lord, when you come to your Kingdom, remember me.” Jesus replied: “I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise”.Lk 23,43
Christ does not come as a tyrant to impose his kingdom whether we like it or not. He came and he comes in a respectful way, he only proposes to us, he did not want to impose anything on us.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and eat with him and he with me. To the one who overcomes I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat with my Father on his throne.”Revelation 3,20s
That is to say that He reigns in whom he allows him to reign. If anyone wants to be my disciple, … It is not imposed. He does not force us. We must freely choose Him. Love him first as a teacher, so that knowing him we love him and loving him accept him as King and Lord of our lives.
Christ spoke all the time of his Kingdom, of the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven. We can say that this is the title of all his preaching. His Good News was this announcement:
“The kingdom of God is near, convert and believe in the gospel”Mark 3:15
All he did was speak to us about the Kingdom of God that we are called to live already in this world, that is, the values of heaven, in order to be able to live them also later in the eternal Kingdom.
That is why Jesus looked for comparisons: with what will I compare the Kingdom of God? It looks like a hidden treasure… like a pearl, a mustard seed, etc. They are the parables of the Kingdom. He also taught us to ask for it in the Our Father, as the deepest longing that should be in our hearts: THY KINGDOM COME. That is, the values of heaven, the fruits of the Spirit that should prevail in our lives, his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, … is what is achieved by fulfilling what we say in the following request of the Our Father: Thy will be done. Seeking his will we will live his Kingdom, here in an imperfect way and surrounded by sin and persecution of the world and in eternity in a full way.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and his justice, and everything else will be added to you.”Matthew 6,33
Indeed, we are called to live the first commandment, to love God above everything and everyone, even above ourselves. And to give priority to the Kingdom of God, over any other goal in this world, however good and legitimate it may be, because what would be the use of winning the whole world if you lose your Life?
Let us then let Jesus be our King, our Lord, our Good Shepherd, because only He knows how to guide us through green meadows, sources of peace and to the safe port of eternal heaven. No one goes to the Father except through me. LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING!
Readings for the Week
Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5; Ps 24:1bc-4ab, 5-6; Lk 21:1-4
Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19; Ps 96:10-13; Lk 21:5-11
Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4; Ps 98:1-3ab, 7-9; Lk 21:12-19
Thursday: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 21:20-28
Thanksgiving Day (suggested): Sir 50:22-24; Ps 145:2-11; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19
Friday: Rv 20:1-4, 11 — 21:2; Ps 84:3-6a, 8a; Lk 21:29-33
Saturday: Rv 22:1-7; Ps 95:1-7ab; Lk 21:34-36
Sunday: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Monday: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
Tuesday: St. Cecilia
Wednesday: St. Clement I; St. Columban; Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro
Thursday: St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc and Companions; Thanksgiving Day
Friday: St. Catherine of Alexandria