Reflection for Sunday November 20, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: Luke 23:35-43

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

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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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was soon to be king; he was a silent but faithful follower of Jesus. When he was about to be anointed as king by his brother. He told him: “My beloved brother after my anointment I will give everything under my kingdom to our people and I will live a simple life of service for them.”  His brother told him: “Why? Don’t you like power and influence? Don’t you like to be served like other kings?    

The man said, I can fully exercise my power and I will be more fulfilled if I will serve our people even until death. The baffled brother simply walked away. 

Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, a fitting homage we give to Jesus as we end the church’s liturgical calendar. 

The Kingship of Jesus is a paradox for majority of us because how could He be King when He savagely died on the cross? How could He be King when He doesn’t even have a kingdom nor armed soldiers to protect Him?  How could He be king when He served instead of Him being served? How could He be king when He was jeered, punished and then killed on the cross? 

Such is the paradox of the kingship of Jesus; if we look at it superficially it’s really not our idea of true kingship. But Jesus wants to open our eyes to His own brand of true kingship; the kingship that the kings and leaders of this world avoids like a contagious disease. 

Jesus wants us to realize that it is in our exercise of humility that we align ourselves with His kingship. It is in our exercise of service for everyone especially to those who are poor that we become living bearers of His kingship. 

We have our own divergent ideas on how it is to be a king or to be a leader. However, Jesus wants to put this divergence to rest by inviting us to learn from Him on how He exercised His kingship. A kingship of Obedience, Humility and Service to His people even unto death. 

Would you follow this path of Jesus’ kingship? – Marino J. Dasmarinas