Who is This king?

“So Pilate said to him (Jesus), ‘Then you are a king?’” (Jn 18:37) 

Would the same question come to mind if we were face to face with Jesus? Do we recognize Jesus as our king? As the liturgical year ends, we celebrate this final Sunday the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. 

Are you a king? (Jn 18:33-37)

The angel Gabriel announced to Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:31-33). This long expected promise of the anticipated Messiah was fulfilled. St. John Paul II writes, “In the annunciation, Jesus is presented as whom the ancient promise is fulfilled. In this way the truth about Christ the king is situated in the biblical tradition of the messianic king (the Messiah-King). In this form it is frequently found in the Gospels which speak to us of the mission of Jesus of Nazareth and transmit his teaching to us.”

Eternal truth

Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn 18:37). 

Those who listen to Jesus’ voice are bound by love to truth himself. Regarding this, St. John Paul II states, “These unambiguous words of Jesus contain the clear statement that the kingly character or office, linked with the mission of the Christ-Messiah sent by God, cannot be understood in a political sense as though it concerned an earthly power, not even in relation to the chosen people, Israel.”  

Long anticipated was a warrior king of the Jews; one who was expected to conquer the ruling government and establish earthly power. Yet, Jesus proclaims the kingdom of God is not earthly but eternal. Jesus came to recover those bound by sin and death, for he is the way, the truth and the life. We see this faith witnessed by the plea of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power” (Lk 23:42). Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43). 

In this dialogue we find a final confirmation of the words which the angel had addressed to Mary in the annunciation: Jesus “will reign, and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Lk 1:33).

Christ our king

By way of baptism, faith plunges us into the realm of the kingdom of God. We are subjects of our servant king, not in a utilitarian sense but in love. We are presently living in the kingdom of God and also have the presence of our king within. The interior and exterior mission of building God’s kingdom is founded in love and truth. Jesus, as our king, guides our path wielding a royal scepter with hands that heal, receive, lead, pray and sanctify. Upon his royal priestly hands are the scars that remain from the wounds of his perfect sacrifice for our eternal salvation, our king “who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification” (Rom 4:25). 

The law governing our path is a law of love: God and neighbor. No other law is above this law for Christ’s governance is absolute. “(Our) end is the kingdom of God, which has been begun by God himself on earth, and which is to be further extended until it is brought to perfection by him at the end of time, when Christ, our life, shall appear, and creation itself will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God” (Lumen Gentium, 9).

Advent One – Preparations (Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)

As the liturgical year concludes, a new one begins. The First Sunday in Advent ushers in a new cycle. This preparatory and penitential season of expectation begins with the end of times. It seems disconcerting at first glance. Yet, as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ incarnation, we first “renew our ardent desire for his second coming” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 524).

The reality of Jesus as our king, coming in a cloud of power and great glory is the hope of life eternal. The catechism teaches, “In Jesus ‘the kingdom of God is at hand.’ He calls his hearers to conversion and faith but also to watchfulness. In prayer the disciple keeps watch, attentive to him who is and him who comes, in memory of his first coming in the lowliness of the flesh, and in the hope of his second coming in glory. In communion with their master, the disciples’ prayer is a battle; only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into temptation” (Catechism, Paragraph 2612).

Jesus explains, “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the son of man” (Lk 21:36). 

Christ, in his great love for the faithful, affirms the importance of being watchful and attentive all the time. All the time. And pray for the strength to evade what difficulties may come our way and be able to stand before our king in love, humility and peace. So we pray in Psalm 85:8 “Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.” Amen.

Weekly Advent Meditations, To His Sacred Heart: Growing in Holiness

Beginning Nov. 21, the Diocese of Baton Rouge will share a video series produced in 2021 by Sacred Heart Church in Baton Rouge. This five-part series is accompanied by a weekly prayer card and may be watched individually, with families and in small Christian communities. For access and other Advent resources visit diobr.org/ and search for Advent.

Year of St. Joseph

Blessed, St. Joseph, who, guided by the message of an angel, embraced the son of God, we implore your intercession for hope on our pilgrim journey as we begin this Advent season. Help us to be fully vigilant, and like you, welcome the king of the universe, Jesus Christ our Lord, into our watchful days. Amen.

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.