Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - 24 November 2024
24th November 2024
“The Cross is the paradoxical sign of His kingship, which consists in the loving will of God the Father in response to the disobedience of sin. It is in the very offering of Himself in the sacrifice of expiation that Jesus becomes King of the universe.” - Pope Benedict XVI, 22 Nov 2009
A reflection on today's Gospel by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"‘Art Thou the King of the Jews?’ (John 18:33)
"The charge was only that He was a king. Pilate knew that if Christ was setting Himself up as a rival king to the Romans, the Gentiles would be there to testify against Him. So he asked if He were King of the Jews. Our Lord in answer to the question penetrated the conscience of Pilate; He asked him if he was saying that because his suspicions had been aroused by the false charge of His enemies. Pilate had expected a direct answer. Our Lord now made clear that a distinction had to be made between a political and religious kingship; political kingship, which was the only interest Pilate had in the case, the Master rejected; religious Kingship which meant that He was the Messiah, Our Lord admitted. To the sceptical Pilate, Our Blessed Lord had to make clear that His Kingship was not that of an earthly kingdom obtained by military power; it was rather a spiritual Kingdom to be established in truth. He would have only moral subjects, not political ones; He would reign in hearts, not in armies.
"‘My Kingdom does not belong to this world. If My Kingdom were one which belonged to this world, My servants would be fighting, to prevent My falling into the hands of the Jews; but no, My Kingdom does not take its origin here’ (John 18:36).
"Pilate’s worry about a challenge to Roman power was, for the moment, put at ease. Christ’s Kingdom was not of this world; therefore He was not like Judas the Galilean, the son of Ezechias, who had led a rebellion against Rome a few decades before by inciting the people not to pay taxes. Pilate may have heard that the night before, when Peter had argued with the sword, Our Lord had reprimanded the wielder of the weapon and had healed the injured man. If His Kingdom were of the world, Our Lord argued, He would need the help of armies of men; but a Heavenly Kingdom was sufficient unto itself, for its power came from above. His Kingdom was in the world, but not of it.
"The quiet and dignified bearing of the One before him so helplessly bound with ropes —His face marred with the beatings after the first trial, His assertion that His Kingdom was not of this world, that He had servants who would not use the sword, and that He was to establish a Kingdom without fighting—all this puzzled Pilate, who changed his question. The first time Pilate had asked, “Art Thou King of the Jews?” Now he asked: ‘Thou art a King, then?’
"The religious trial centred on Christ the Prophet, the Messiah, the Son of God. The civil trial revolved about His Kingship. Strange how the Gentiles were associated with Christ under this royal title! The Magi at His birth asked where the King was born; it was the imperial edict of Caesar that fulfilled the prophecy of Micheas that He would be born in Bethlehem.
"Pilate, satisfied that Christ was not a political rival, in wonderment prodded a little deeper into the mystery of His Kingly claim. Our Lord, having already avowed His Kingly state, acknowledged the inference which Pilate had somewhat scornfully drawn and answered: ‘It is thy own lips that have called Me a King. What I was born for, what I came into the world for, is to bear witness of the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth, listens to My voice.’
"All during Our Lord’s life He had spoken of Himself as coming into this world; this was the only time that He ever spoke of being born. Being born of a woman is one fact, coming into the world is another. But He immediately followed up this reference to His human birth with the reaffirmation that He had come into the world. When He said that He was born, He was acknowledging His human temporal origin as the Son of Man; when He said He came into the world, He affirmed His Divinity. Furthermore, He Who came from heaven, came to bear witness, which meant to die for the truth. He laid down the moral condition of discovering truth and affirmed that it was not only an intellectual quest; what one discovered depended in part on one’s moral behaviour. It was in this sense, Our Lord said once, that His sheep heard His voice."
(Life of Christ)
Prayer to Christ the King
O Jesus Christ, I acknowledge Thee to be the King of the universe; all that has been made is created for Thee. Exercise over me all Thy sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my Baptism, renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps, and I engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life. And in an especial manner do I pledge myself to labour, to the best of my ability, for the triumph of God and Thy Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, to Thee do I proffer my poor services to obtain the acknowledgement by every heart of Thy sacred Kingly power, and that thus the reign of Thy peace be firmly established throughout the whole universe. Amen. 💐💖🙏