Solemnity of JESUS Christ King of the Universe 26th November 2000
First: Dan 7:13-14; Second: Rev 1:5-8; Gospel: Jn 18:33b-37
THEME of the READINGS
There cannot be any other theme in today’s liturgy than the kingship of Jesus Christ. This kingship is prefigured in the text of the prophet Daniel: "On him was conferred rule, honor and kingship ... and his kingship will never come to an end" (first reading). In the Gospel, the kingship of Jesus is affirmed in categorical terms: "So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "It is you who say that I am a king." The second reading, taken from Revelation, confirms and praises the kingship of Jesus: "To him then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen." At the same time, Christians share Christ’s kingship: "He loved us... and made us a Kingdom of Priests to serve his God and Father."
DOCTrinal MESSAGE
Two ways to understand "king". Pilate and Jesus represent two opposite ideas of king and kingship. Pilate cannot conceive of any other king or kingdom than that of a the human person with absolute power, like Emperor Tiberius, or at least with power limited to a territory and to some subjects, like the famous Herod the Great. Jesus, however, did not come from the world of men, but from God. Pilate thinks of a kingdom founded on power imposed by the force of an army, while Jesus has in mind a kingdom imposed not by military force. If it had been otherwise, "my angels would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews." No, Jesus’ is a kingdom imposed by the force of truth and love. Pilate can in no way conceive of a king who has been sentenced to death by his very subjects and does not put up any resistance. Jesus, on the other hand, is certain that on the beam of the Cross he will establish his mysterious kingdom in a definitive and perfect way. To Pilate, saying that one can rule after death is absurd; to Jesus it is perfectly clear. This is the truest reality, for death cannot destroy the kingdom of the spirit. Two different kingdoms, with different ideas. After two thousand years since the historic meeting between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, isn’t Jesus Christ’s idea the one that has been able to pass the test of history?
Characteristics of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Jesus is a pre-announced kingdom, in which the centuries-old promise God made through the prophets is fulfilled. Jesus’ rule is that of the Son of Man, to whom God confers all power and all of the Kingdom (first reading). In the second place, it is a kingdom which overcomes all the powers of evil, symbolized by Daniel in the four beasts. Indeed, Christ will overcome them all on the Cross, which the evangelist John sees like a throne, placing all demonic powers at his feet. In the third place, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is strangely peculiar: it is not of this world, but it is present in this world, although it is not visible because it belongs to the kingdom of the spirit. In the fourth place, the King defines himself as witness of truth, and the subjects as those who are the subjects of truth and listen to his voice. Yes, Christ is King insofar as he bears witness to the truth, in other words, to the Word of the Father whom he incarnates, and whom the Spirit internalizes and makes effective in our hearts. We are the subjects of Christ the King if we are on the side of truth, if we live, think and act in tune and line with the Word of Jesus Christ. In the fifth place, Jesus is not the king of space but of time, of all times. He is the alpha and omega, the center of time and its regulating principle, "He who is, who was and who is to come." Finally, Jesus Christ is not only King, but he makes Christians participate in his Kingship: he has made us a Kingdom of Priests for his God and Father. This way, Christians participate in Christ’s Kingship, which has the characteristics that have just been described.
PASTORal SUGGESTIONS
Let the King be a king for real. When a king is a despot, a tyrant, when he exploits his subjects, then it is right and necessary to rebel against him. But if a king is just, good, committed to the well-being of his subjects, understanding and a good ruler, then his subjects must let him be king. The royal absolutism of past centuries has perturbed and disfigured the noble figure of a true king. Everything possible must be done to recover that figure in the common mentality of men, especially Christians, because we cannot renounce calling Jesus Christ King and Lord of the Universe. It would be regrettable for Christians to perceive Jesus’ kingship as having the negative characteristics of an absolute and despotic sovereign. Jesus Christ wants to rule, this is why he has come into this world; we must let Christ really be a king. We need to let him be a king like he wants to be, not in line with outmoded political practices; to be the king of all human beings and of the all of every human being: our thoughts, feelings, will, emotions, time, existence, work and rest. We need to let him infuse a divine presence into our lives, a sovereignty which elevates, a spiritual kingship. What is your concept of Jesus Christ the King? Do you let Jesus Christ really be the king of your life? What are you doing, what can you do in order for Christ to reign in the hearts of human beings and of history? What will you promise Jesus in his feast as King of the Universe?
A Kingdom of Priests. In Jesus Christ, his Priesthood and Kingship are united on the Cross. We Christians are a people of kings and a kingdom of priests by virtue of Jesus Christ’s Death and Resurrection. We are a kingdom of priests because we love and follow the doctrine of truth, because we sing praise and glory to the Lord together in the liturgy, because moved by faith we let him guide our steps towards the Father, each one in his own way, and all as a community of faith and worship. We are also a kingly people because Jesus Christ’s kingship does not make us his subjects or slaves, but free persons, perfectly free in relation to ourselves and our passions, in relation to the world with its powers and snares, in relation to God who attracts us with tenderness and love. I am convinced that the beauty of Christian life lies hidden to most people. And I am absolutely certain that if we were to glimpse this beauty, opening the eyes of our intelligence and love to it, we would fall in love with it. Whether the Church is a people of kings and a kingdom of priests depends on each and everyone of us.
Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOB.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)
[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].