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 Sanhedrin 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.