Homily Solemnity of Christ the King Year B
Homily
Solemnity of Christ the King Year B
Reading
1: Daniel in a vision sees what is to take place centuries after him. In
effect, Daniel sees One like the Son of Man ascending to the Ancient One, where
he receives in his glorified humanity glory, dominion and kingship. Jesus is the Son of Man and the Ancient One is
the Father. This prophetic vision was fulfilled in the person of Jesus at the
time of his Ascension to the Father.
Paul
attested to this fact of revelation in his Letter to the Philippians where he
says: “God raised the Son up and exalted him at his right hand and gave a name
above all other names—at this name every knee shall bend on earth, in the heavens
and under the earth acclaiming Jesus as Lord to the glory of the Father.”
Daniel
prophesied that the Son of Man received dominion, glory and kingship and all
peoples served him. What does this indicate? It says that Jesus’s kingship is
1) supreme, extending to all peoples. It is a 2) universal kingship, covering
all nations and places. Finally, 3) it is an eternal kingship, lasting forever.
At
the time, Daniel does not know the full ramifications of his vision. But when
Jesus was questioned by the Sanhedran during his trial, he predicted that the
Son of Man will be seen coming upon the clouds.
Reading
2: The reading from the Book of Revelation picks this theme up. “Behold, he is
coming amid the clouds, and ever eye will see him, even those who pierced him.”
This connects us to last Sunday’s reading, namely that Jesus will come again in
glory to judge the living and the dead. Jesus, the God/Man is king because of
his death on the cross by which he freed us from our sins by his blood. He is
the “faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of
the earth.”
To
him belongs the glory and power because of who he is and what he has done. He
not only created us but, when we chose to alienate ourselves through sin, he chose
to give his life for our redemption from the kingdom of death.
Gospel:
The Jewish leaders tried to juxtaposition Jesus in opposition to the Roman
Emperor. Their desire to have Jesus put to death was so intense that they were
willing to align themselves with Caesar, which was contrary to their deepest
beliefs. This prompted Pilate to ask Jesus
about
his kingdom. “Are you a king?” Jesus emphasized that his kingdom was a
spiritual kingdom, not limited to time and space.
Pilate
missed the point. The fact is Jesus is Lord and King, not because we made him
so, but because he is by virtue of his role as God and Savior.
The
question for us to answer is this. Is Jesus our Lord and King? Do we not only say
this but live it as fully as possible. Even though the Jewish leaders said that
Caesar was their king, they were giving lip service. Is ours lip service or do
we consciously submit ourselves and everything we have to the Lord. He is the
Lord of my life, all I am and all I have.
Jesus
is the Lord of my life because he created me in his own image and likeness and
sustains me every second of my life. I belong to him by virtue of my creation.
Jesus is the Lord of my life because I came into life alienated from God
because of Original sin and to which I added my personal sins as well. Jesus redeemed
me by his death on the cross. I belong to him. He is Lord of my life because he
has adopted me as his son or daughter, sharing his own divine life with me.
Even
though all this is factually true, I may still not acknowledge and accept him
as such; I still may not surrender my life into his hands as my Lord and King.
I may still be seeking to have full control, not trusting him. To this extent
we can give him lip service on this day but withhold our heart, mind and will
from him. Or I can embrace the mystery of his love and plan for me, giving him
glory and honor, praise and love now in preparation for what awaits me in glory
with him.
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