The Feast of Christ the King

Readings: Daniel 7v9-10&13-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1v4b-8; John 18v33-37

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word : Today is the last Sunday of the Christian year when we focus on Jesus’ return, as the King of all at the end of time.

 The psalm tells us that the one who is king forever is both the Lord on high and is one who is full of might and strength and holiness. Revelations tells us that Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth who all the tribes of earth will see was pierced for us when he comes again with the clouds. For as this book tells us, Jesus is: the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the one who was and is and is to come, the Almighty, the living God. Daniel foretold this in the description of an everlasting kingship that can never be destroyed ruling over all peoples and nations of every language being given to one like a human by the Ancient One. Daniel describes this as taking place in the presence of the thousands and thousands serving the Ancient One at the time of final judgement when the books are opened for our lives to be judged.

Today, as we give thanks that Jesus came to do everything for us that we cannot do for ourselves, we can keep in mind that Christ is a King like no other. For we have a King who rolled up his sleeves, stepped down from his glory in heaven and came to earth to show us the way to heaven. For Jesus is a king who when questioned by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate declared that his kingdom was not from this world. For he was born and came into the world he created to bear witness to the truth that everyone who belongs to the truth will listen to his voice. For, if we but follow as Jesus calls, the truth will set us free from sin and we shall find ourselves in the book of life when we are called into the time of judgement. 

So today as we celebrate the last Sunday of the Church year, we are pointed to Jesus, the one and only and forever king of all people, and time and places – Christ the King. A king who became like us so we could strive to become more like him.

Let us pray: Lord grant to each one of us: the ears of disciples; the eyes of apostles; the tongues of prophets; the feet of servants; the grace to see you at work in the world; and to hear your call to us; then help us to live our lives in accordance with your word and calling. Amen. (Saint Ignatius of Loyola)