Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
This weekend, in great joy and thanksgiving, the Church closes its year. As it looks back through the days and months of 2024, it gives thanks for salvation achieved in Christ the Lord. He is king, and justice and peace only occur when Jesus truly is acknowledged as Lord.
The Book of Daniel supplies the first reading. This book, as many others in the Old Testament, was written when God’s people were experiencing many trials. It includes a certain literary exaggeration among its techniques, impressing upon readers the depth of the troubles being faced by God’s people at the time.
This technique also dramatizes God’s redemption and protection. He subdues every evil force. He is almighty.
In this reading, a certain representative of God appears. He is identified by his title, “Son of Man” (Dn 7:13). The Son of Man receives dominion, glory and kingship from God. Of course, in the New Testament, Jesus was called the Son of Man, a reference to the image in Daniel.
For its second reading, this feast’s liturgy looks to the Book of Revelation. Of all the New Testament books, none is as dramatic or mysterious as Revelation. (At times, and more aptly, this book is called the “Apocalypse.” It is of the apocalyptic style in biblical literature. “Revelation” could be applied to any book of Scripture.)
The reading is straightforward and bold. Its message leaves no question. The message simply is that Jesus, the holiest and the perfect, rose from the dead, rules the world and vivifies with eternal strength all who love God.
St. John’s Gospel furnishes the last reading. It is a bittersweet reading for this great, joyous feast. The scene is the courtroom of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of the Holy Land, called “Palestina” at the time of Jesus. Pilate goes immediately to the charge against Jesus.
Is Jesus a king? A rival to the mighty emperor of Rome? Jesus replies, but in fact he and Pilate are talking about two distinct realities. Pilate is interested in the political stability of the Roman Empire. Jesus is speaking of a kingdom much more profound, that of human hearts.
Jesus affirms kingship. He is indeed the king anointed by God to bring all people back to the Father in heaven.
Reflection
Everybody was talking. Americans were entranced in 1939 when Britain’s King George VI, who died in 1952, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, who died in 2002 (grandparents of today’s King Charles III) visited the United States. As centers of attention, they rivaled any entertainer, politician or star athlete.
They earned fame when, after the Second World War came upon Great Britain, they became symbols of courage and patriotism.
For six long years, the British people endured terrible hardships. German bombing reduced to ashes not just factories but the homes of so many. Literally thousands of Britons were dying in combat or as victims of other horrors happening from Singapore and Hong Kong (then British territories) to London itself.
At the height of the conflict, rumors circulated that the king, his family and the leaders of government were about to flee to the security of Canada. Amid all the anxiety, the queen visited survivors of a bombing raid. Someone shouted at her, “Are you fleeing to Canada? Are you sending your daughters to Canada?”
Instantly, she replied. “My daughters will not go without me. I will not go without the king, and the king will never, ever, ever leave you!” Come what may, George VI was determined to be with the people, as indeed he was throughout the war.
Christ is our king. He died for us. Jesus will never leave us, especially when times are hard for us. †