Christ the King
by David Deston

For a federal republic, the United States is a bit weird. We honor and celebrate a certain fierce independence that is an American hallmark. Our Constitution is revered with almost religious intensity. We even celebrate our freedom from the shackles of monarchical tyranny with feasting. Yet for all of that, Americans are utterly fascinated with the idea of monarchy. Indeed, for both the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spenser in 1981, and for Princess Diana’s funeral, more Americans tuned in to watch (at an ungodly 4am, I might add), than their counterparts in the United Kingdom. We are, it seems, smitten with kings. Today, on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church honors Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.

All the readings today underline Christ’s kingship over all creation. In the first reading from the prophet Daniel, we see Jesus, the Son of Man receiving from the kings of the earth power, dominion, and glory. Through the prophet, we learn that His kingship is eternal and will not be taken away.

St. John tells us in the book of Revelation that in a way, we have been conquered. It is Christ who makes of us a nation. He has so done by the shedding of His Blood. Indeed, Our Lord identifies Himself with the Father when he says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is, and who was, and who is to come.”

Whence, then, Our Lord’s kingship? Looking at the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus’ line is traced back to his royal ancestor, David, the one chosen by God from among the sheep, to shepherd His people Israel. That, then, is the pedigree. The reading, today, however, deals, not so much with Jesus’ earthly lineage, but with who He is. Jesus Himself tells Pontius Pilate, prefect of the province of Judea for the Senate and the People of Rome, and indeed, the whole world that He is, in fact, King.

Between the scene in today’s Gospel and Jesus’ crucifixion, He is scourged and brought back to Pilate. Pilate, a cravenly political figure, does not want to execute Jesus, but will eventually do so. Before he orders Jesus’ crucifixion, though, he tries to convince the crowd that Jesus is in fact innocent, and everyone should just go home.

I mention all of this because there’s an interesting point in here that further underlines Christ’s divine Kingship. Take a look at the first of the Stations of the Cross when you get a chance. Look at who is seated – it is Pilate. Pilate, as judge in this case, is seated, as indeed, judges today are seated when they pass sentence. If you look at the Greek, however, the phrasing would lead one to the conclusion that it is Christ, not Pilate, who is seated.

Here is further gospel proof that Christ is King. He has already been crowned by the soldiers, albeit with a crown of thorns. He has already been clothed in royal purple, although as part of a mockery. The point here is that Christ has begun His conquest of death. Here, as Our Lord is mocked and derided by the most powerful empire the world had ever seen, He begins His ascent to Kingly glory. Christ is seated in John’s gospel because He will come on the Last Day to judge the living and the dead. Christ, seated upon Pilate’s chair assumes power and dominion over the nations of the world, symbolized by Rome.

The Kingship of Christ is a divine Kingship that was His from before the foundation of the world. Yet it is at the Passion where Jesus claims that Kingship through a public act. When Our Lord hangs on the Cross, He is not a condemned criminal, but the One and Only King of the universe reigning from His throne.

This impacts us in a rather concrete way. As Christians, as members of His very Body, we are both His subjects and sharers in His kingship. As subjects of the most gentle king, we must submit to Him, and turn over to Him all that is ours: all of our trials, our joys, our strengths, and our weaknesses. In so doing, we acclaim the Crucified One as our King. As sharers in His kingship, we have the responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom, both spiritually and physically. We also have the responsibility to proclaim the Kingdom and spread it, winning new souls for Christ.

How exactly do we do this? Quite simply, we follow the example of Our King. John quotes Jesus as saying that He came into the world to testify to the truth. My friends, this is what we must do. When we give alms we testify to the truth that the poor suffer and need our help. When we live by the commandments and keep God’s law, we testify to the truth that we are beholden to a higher power from whom we draw life. When we come here to worship, we testify to the truth that our God is a good, loving and just God who raises us up when we fall, for Our King is leading us to victory over death and to a kingdom of eternal life and happiness with Him forever.