Weekly Catholic Bible Study

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 755: Christ the King (2 Samuel 5:2-5 & Colossians 1 : 12-20 & Luke 23 : 35-43)

 

[2 Samuel]

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: "Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'" When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.

 

[Colossians]

Brothers and sisters: Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is 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. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

 

[Luke]

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

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This last Sunday of the Church’s calendar year is the solemnity of Christ the Universal King, established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI to diffuse the nightmare of the Great War that saw the whole of Europe in an explosion of hatred, tyranny, materialistic pursuit, corruption, and a torrent of bloodshed that had enveloped much of the population. The Pope initiated the feast as a way the church can proudly take the worship of Jesus from the privacy of the heart back to the public proclamation of Christ’s message of peace, justice, communion and love.

 

The solemnity reminds us of “...Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God as Father...” (Rev 1:5-6). As it was, being of the lineage of King David anointed by God, Jesus is king (2 Sam 5:1-3). Thus, it is a reminder that Christ rules over all creation, and his kingdom is that of justice, righteousness, light and peace. Interestingly, his throne is the tree of the cross, and his crown is the reed of thorns. And from that throne, he gave salvation and paradise to a repentant thief as we read in the gospel (Lk 23:40-43); for the man opened up his doors to receive him. It is through this cross of Christ that we have been redeemed and rescued from the power of darkness and brought into his kingdom of light (Col 1:12-13).

 

Now, as Jesus says that “the kingdom is within you” (Lk 17:21), it means that it begins and arises from within and flourishes to full growth in its manifestation in our words and deeds. This means that he has to rule in our hearts first, and that is why he stands at the door of our hearts knocking for us to open and welcome him into our home (Rev 3:20), in order to drink his cup (Matt 20:22). And “those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was victorious myself and took my place with my Father” (Rev 3:21). Now, to be victorious is to assist the establishment of the kingdom of Christ, which actually means a better human society - a society ruled by love. This is why the kingdom of God is here and at the same time not here. It has been

established through the coming of Christ, but it will be fully realized at the end of time with the final coming of Christ, with the coming of the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1; CCC nn.1042-1050).

 

So, how can we help bring about the kingdom of Christ today? One way is to remember that as the kingdom of God progresses, we are called to be open to the promptings and teachings of the Holy Spirit in us and then witness and manifest this in the good we do in our own small corner of the society, thus bringing the reign of Jesus not only to us but also to our families, our parish and the society. And I think that was what St. Francis prayed when he said: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon, Where there is doubt, faith, Where there is despair, hope, Where there is darkness, light, And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in

pardoning that we are pardoned; And in dying that we born to eternal life – Amen.”

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma

 

 

Prayer: O Jesus Christ, I acknowledge you as universal King. All that has been made has been created for You. Exercise all Your rights over me. I renew my Baptismal Vows. I renounce Satan, his pomps and his works; I promise to live as a good Christian. And, in particular do I pledge myself to labor, to the best of my ability, for the triumph of the rights of God and of Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, to You do I offer my poor services, laboring that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred kingship, and that thus the reign of Your peace be established throughout the whole universe. Amen.

 

Quote from a Saint: “Christ’s kingdom is not just a figure of speech. Christ is alive, He lives as a man, with the same body He took when He became man, when He rose after His death, the glorified body which subsists in the person of the Word together with His human heart. Christ, true God and true man, lives and reigns. He is the Lord of the universe. Everything that lives is kept in existence only through Him.” St Josemaria Escrivá (1902-1975)

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Questions for reflection:

1. In what ways to we need the solemnity of Christ the Universal King as much as when it was first established in 1925?

2. Does Christ rule in your heart?

3. Have you answered Christ’s knocking on the door of your heart or is he still patiently standing on the porch of your heart asking to be allowed in?

4. Do you keep your faith hidden and private or do you proclaim it loudly? How does this celebration of the church inspire you to proclaim Christ’s message of peace, justice, communion and love?

5. What does a world ruled by love look like?

6. How can we help bring about the kingdom of Christ today?

7. Do you feel that you are open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP