Christ the King – Solemnity 

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 121(122):1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

In the late 1960’s, today’s great feast was moved to its new position at the end of the Church’s year, just one week before Advent begins again the recurring cycle.  The purpose of this new position was to emphasize Christ’s sovereign dominion over all times and all seasons, all ages, all creation; His cosmic Kingship.   All that of course is true, and we do very well to celebrate it.  With that aspect in mind, today’s gospel might seem a rather unexpected choice.  The gospel brings the King before our eyes, but not reigning in triumph, apparently.  Rather, we see the King nailed to His Cross.  Over His head, an ironic caption “This is the King of the Jews” – a deliberately contemptuous accolade from Pontius Pilate, the minor provincial functionary of the occupying power, the Roman Emperor. Bleeding and tortured on the Cross, Our Lord’s  absolute sovereignty over all Emperors, Kings, Princes and rulers seems unconvincing, to say the least.  There is the King of Kings dying in agony, between two common criminals.  Not a very auspicious beginning to His endless reign.
 
There was however one person in particular who saw beyond the surface details, one poor sinner who glimpsed a little, but enough, of Christ’s majesty.  It was of course one of those who were crucified with Him, the one whom we call ‘the Repentant Thief’, This commoner, this petty criminal, was given a particular grace, in the hour of his death.  He was given the grace to discern the true identity and prerogatives of His Sovereign, and He was given the further grace of throwing himself upon the mercy of His King. “Remember me, when you come in your kingly power”.  A better translation of those words would be, “remember me when you come into your kingdom”. When you enter into your kingdom.   Something in the future.  Our Lord’s immediate and generous reply was the promise of Paradise, a promise to be fulfilled not in this life, but in the life to come.
 
It is indisputable that the Kingship of Christ seems to be of very little  relevance to an increasingly large number of His subjects.  Indeed, very  many of those who once knew and loved their King have now uncrowned Him, flouting His laws, and enlisting in the great rebellion.  By all outward appearances, His Kingship, in many areas, in many hearts, is losing its grip. Let us take just one example from comparatively recent history.  In the 1950’s, all around the Catholic world, things were looking good.  The Missions, Religious Orders, Seminaries, conversions, lay associations, and also it must be said, Mass attendance, all these and more were indeed flourishing.  It really seemed as if the Kingdom of Christ was becoming more and more widely incarnated here below.  But now, in this new century, we are presented with a very different picture.  Objectively, Christ the King and His sovereignty are of course unchanging.  Subjectively however, much has collapsed, and much of what remains is in confusion.  Recall again those words of the repentant thief. “Remember me, when you come into your kingdom.”  Christ’s kingship is not, and may never  be, fully visible or totally accepted in this world.  His kingship began in this world, on a Cross, but will be finally completed only in Paradise.
 
In all the present degradation of Christ’s sovereignty, is it not possible to discern a little of God’s purposes?   Nowadays, we in the Church Militant are seeing less and less of the glory of the Kingdom, the certainty of the Kingdom.  But perhaps God is asking us to concentrate, more than we did before, on acquiring the graces which He gave to the Repentant Thief; the graces of understanding (that is, discernment), followed by repentance and conversion.  We have to understand, with the heart and with the intellect, that even in an age of spiritual confusion, Christ is still sovereign, objectively speaking.  His claims are absolute.  He, and He alone, is the world’s true King.  This discernment must then lead us to a deep examination of conscience. Are we actually His devoted subjects? Do we consistently order our lives according to His laws?    When we have examined our conscience, we must repent not only of our sins, but also of our lukewarm and half-hearted devotion.  Then we must commit ourselves again and again, to the life-long process of conversion, turning to the King, offering Him our full co-operation.  In this way we shall work for the coming of His Kingdom. Remember that, Of His Kingdom, there will be no end.

Fr Joseph Osho.