Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st November, 2021. The Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

 Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st November, 2021. The Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

Readings: Dan. 7:13-14; Ps.93; Rev. 1:5-8; John 18:33-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE KINGSHIP OF CHRIST?

Every last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church  celebrates the solemnity of Christ the Universal King. It was Pope Pius XI who promulgated this Feast of Christ the King in 1925. At the period when the world was still recovering from the ugly event of the First World War that ended in 1918, the period when humanity turned away from the teachings of the Gospel, in search for worldly powers and dominion apart from God. So the Pope believed that the celebration of the Feast of Christ the Universal King will be appropriate at that period in order to call humanity to conversion and renewal of loyalty to Jesus the True Universal King.

So as we celebrate this great event, the questions that always come to mind are: what is the nature of this Kingship of Christ? How does it relate to the events of human history? What is the effect of this Kingship in our society today? What message or lessons can we learn from it? This same question is the issues in our Gospel passage today. Where we heard Pilate asking Jesus about his mission and the nature of his kingship. “Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.’ ‘So you are a king then?’ Pilate asked him. And Jesus said ‘It is you who say it’. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.”

Here, Jesus gave us the answers to all the questions we have in mind concerning his kingship.  He made us to know that his kingdom is beyond the activities of this passing world. So, we are called to look to the future with more insight into the ultimate goal of history towards the eternal kingdom of Christ. For he was with the Father in the beginning, when the world was created, and he will fully manifest his Lordships at the end of time, when he will come as a triumphant King and judge humanity based on our actions, deeds and faith. Then will be time for great separation, when the good will be separated from the bad, holy from sinful, righteous from evil, sheep from goats of which our deeds will reveal who we are and where we belong as we heard from prophet Daniel in our first reading in relation to the redemption brought by Christ Jesus as we have it in our second reading today.

Dear friends, no doubt that we are living in a world full of greed and selfish people who are swallowed in values of egoism and materialism, with uncontrollable desires for pleasure. We are called today to embrace the teachings of Christ the Universal King for this is what today’s celebration requires of us. 

Therefore, as we celebrate this great event, let us turn toward Christ for he is our true King. Following him means carrying our own cross, forgetting our self, and faithfully obeying his commandment of sacrificial love. For it is by the blood of his cross, that Jesus reveals the nature of his Kingship, not in saving his life, but in offering it as a ransom for our salvation. 

Thus, trying to do away with the cross in our lives deprives our souls of these true love and loyalty to Christ our King, who today wants to reign supreme in our hearts and soul. So, let us join in the triumphant procession holding palm branches singing Hosanna in the Highest, recalling the inscription above the cross: Jesus the King of the Jews. Let us show him honour, not just with palm branches but with the splendour of heart full of love and merciful deeds. Let us in joy express and spread before his presence the garments  of our heavy heart weigh down by sins  along with the inner desires of our souls so that he can passing through our souls and purify our whole being so as to rule in our hearts as the King of Peace, for that is the nature of his Kingship.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly King, as we celebrate the universal Kingship of Christ your Son, amidst the hostile forces and evil of this passing world, may we be victorious as you fill us with the peace and joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a blessed Christ the King celebration.