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Solemnity of Christ the King

Fernando Armellini - Sat, Nov 19th 2022

Solemnity of Christ the King - A King who calls us his brothers and sisters 
Luke 23:35-43
 
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the crown of the liturgical year. Today’s liturgy summarizes the mission of Christ. He died on the Cross for us to reveal to us the depth of God’s love and his boundless mercy on sinners.
 
The Gospel presents the kingship of Jesus as the culmination of his saving work. Pope Francis describes the appearance of this King as narrated in the Gospels: “The Christ of God, the Chosen One, the King (Lk 23:35,37) appears without power or glory: he is on the Cross, where he seems more to be defeated than being a conqueror. His kingship is paradoxical: his throne is the Cross; his crown is made of thorns; he has no sceptre; he does not have luxurious clothing but is stripped even of his tunic; he wears no rings on his fingers, but his hands are pierced with nails; he has no treasure, but is sold for thirty pieces of silver.” 
 
The reign of Jesus needs to be experienced and believed with the eyes of faith. The world cannot explain his kingship. The grandeur of his kingdom is not in power as defined by this world, but the love, a love capable of encountering and healing all wounds. Christ the King lowered himself to the lowest point of our human misery: injustice, betrayal and abandonment. He experienced death - our King went to the ends of the universe to embrace and save every living being.
 
Today’s Gospel presents us with three categories of people:
* the crowd who were jeering the crucified
* the people who stood at the foot of the Cross
* the criminals crucified with Jesus
 
The Gospel says that “the people – the majority of them, stood by, watching” (Lk 23:35). They were merely onlookers. They kept their distance to see what was happening. When they needed a favour, they rushed to Jesus, but now they kept their distance. At times we, too, behave like the crowd. When our prayers are not answered, and our hopes are not fulfilled, we are tempted to keep our distance from Jesus’ kingship, and we refuse to accept completely the scandal of his humble love, which unsettles and disturbs us. 
 
But those at the foot of the Cross are very few, but indeed the brave ones. They were not afraid of the consequences of being identified as related to the Lord. They braved the Jewish leadership and Roman soldiers who executed the crucifixion to reach the foot of Cross, the throne of the King. And the king accepts them not as his subjects but as his brothers and sisters. 
 
The promise of paradise to the crucified criminal brings us hope. Even when the whole world convicts us, the King grants us pardon, and that’s all that matters!

Nov 20, 2022 - Thirty fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C
 
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