Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

 

Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe | USCCB

This weekend, with the commemoration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we bring the church year to an end. Next week a new church year starts with the First Sunday of Advent, and we start to prepare for the  celebration of the birth of Our Lord on Christmas day just four weeks away.

This feast of Christ the King originated in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. The world of 1925 was full of wars and dictators, all seeking to be the center of the world. They were all trying to get attention and loyalty. Pope Pius XI, seeing this, wanted to remind the world that the ultimate person who deserves our loyalty is Jesus Christ. He is the true king of the world and of the universe. No earthly king, president or dictator can ever replace Jesus Christ in our lives. Jesus Christ is the ultimate king and deserve our love and devotion.

Now, just a hundred years later, these various superpowers have come and gone. There was the Soviet Union, the Third Reich in Germany, the Japanese emperor. All of them gone. But now, today, there are those who are still attempting to gain control of the world. We see with Russia invading the Ukraine, attempting to expand the borders of Russia with war. We see the war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas with the hatred between those two groups. We see people focusing more on hate and division, and ignoring the fact that we are all made in God’s image and deserve to live a life of peace and mutual respect. They have left Jesus Christ out of their lives and continue to wage wars on each other due to mutual hate and a feeling that their own ethnic group is superior to the other.

In our gospel for today we see Jesus at his weakest. He is on the cross, condemned to death by the scribes and Pharisees. He was accused of blasphemy: of making himself out to be God, something that they couldn’t accept. While on the Cross, they mocked him: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him, Pilate placed the inscription “This is the King of the Jews.” Of all people, Pilate seemed to have got it right: for indeed Jesus is indeed a king.

Though Jesus appears to be week while on the cross, we must remember that it is there that he indeed is the strongest. It is there that Jesus took upon himself our sins and they were nailed to the cross with him. In this way Jesus Christ was able to die for each one of us and to bring forgiveness of sins to the world.

It is through the Cross that our souls and spirits can be healed. It is the cross that brings us back to the Father. It is through the Cross that we learn the truth about sin and about God’s forgiveness. It is through the cross that brings salvation to all people, no matter how sinful they may be. No matter how sinful a person may have been in his or her life, they can find forgiveness and peace through the power of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

There are many people who approach death and find that Jesus is the only person they can turn to to find peace and forgiveness. Whatever they may have done in their life, no matter how sinful they may have been, they can find love and forgiveness from Jesus Christ, though the power of his cross.

The Cross is a busy place and always will be. It’s always good for us to turn to Jesus on the Cross and to seek forgiveness for whatever sins and failures we may have done over our life. Then, after meditating upon the cross, to get the full benefit of the Lord’s forgiveness, we should go to confession for the times that we failed to turn to him as we should. Then, through the power of the absolution, we will receive forgiveness and that peace that can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, looking at the kingdom of Christ, we don’t see a kingdom of castles, armies, kings or queens, presidents or dictators. What we do see is a kingdom of people forgiven of their sins and now following Jesus Christ to bring true peace to the world. We see people  healed and forgiven and at peace in their relationship with God and with each other.

The Kingdom of Christ here on earth is those of us who have turned away from a life of sin and selfishness and have turned to God. Christ is not just a king from his throne in heaven, but from the inner most recesses of our hearts. We are to make Christ the king of our lives and to bring this kingship of Christ to those in our lives that may not know who Christ is.

As we finish this church year and start preparing for the birthday of the Lord on Christmas day, let us always reflect on the cross. Let us place the cross prominently in our homes in order for Christ the King to reign over us. Let us also, throughout the new church year, make time to read and reflect upon scripture in order to become more Christ centered. Let us always be proud that Jesus Christ is our Lord and King.