Thirty-fourth Sunday of the Year: C: Feast of Christ the King: November 20, 2022

 JESUS THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE

First Reading: 2 Samuel 5: 1-3

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 23: 35-43

   *First reading is from the second book of Samuel. Anointing of David as King is described. David is anointed as King of Judea. Later northern tribes too accept him as their King. Hence David becomes de-facto king of the whole of Israel. David's kingship becomes a pre-figuration of the  universal kingship of Christ the Lord.

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul gives thanks to God for having delivered humankind from the dominion  of darkness and brought us to the kingdom of His beloved Son Jesus. Christ is the image of the invisible God and head of the Church and He is also the Lord of all creation. 

The true identity of Jesus the King                                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. An inscription placed above the cross of Jesus, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews", proclaims the true identity of Jesus the King. Jesus is the Messiah (the anointed one)and the King. Even as He dies on the cross, He gives consolation and forgiveness to all those around Him. There are many people below the cross of Christ: soldiers, Pharisees and many by-standers who mock and challenge Him saying,"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." Again, when the thief on His right pleads saying,"Jesus, remember me when you are in your kingdom,"  Jesus immediately assures Him a place in paradise. As He is dying on the cross, He calls His mother and the beloved disciple and entrusts His mother to the disciple and tells His mother, "This is your son." - pointing to the disciple. Hence Jesus' final gift to every believer is His mother to be our heavenly mother. Christ's kingdom is a very special kingdom. He has come not to conquer but to love. He has come not to have possessions but to give them away (even His own beloved mother) to us.Thus Jesus is the King of our hearts and our minds. 

"Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks you. 'Will you be that one to Him?'" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"Rome is gone, Napoleon is gone, Hitler is gone, but the kingdom of Jesus marches on." - D. Guzik