Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

Christ the King Reveals a New Kind of Power

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Jews did not see Jesus as their Messiah or King. Their idea of a king is not a suffering servant but a triumphant military and political leader, a war hero like King David who will conquer and overcome all their enemies, restore the kingship to Israel and initiate a reign of peace and prosperity. The Jews knew the words of Deuteronomy 21:23 said, “God’s curse is on anyone who hangs on a tree.” So, to consider Jesus who was crucified on a cross as their Messiah and King is rather inconceivable. When Pilate put a sign above Jesus’ head that reads: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19) the chief priests of the Jews protested over the inscription: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be the king of the Jews.” To say or to suggest that Jesus, a condemned man, hung on the cross (tree) is the King of the Jews is not only offensive but also blasphemous, and the authorities were ready to pronounce anathema to whoever that acknowledged that. 

Jesus wasn’t crucified between two thieves by accident. His crucifixion between two known criminals was a deliberate plot to humiliate him in front of the people that believed that he is the messiah. It was an attempt to link him with robbers, create doubts in the minds of people about him, tarnish his image, destroy his good reputation, make him a footnote in the history book and ultimately persuade and discourage people from seeing him as the Messiah and the King of the Jews and the world. The Jewish authorities hated him so much that they were ready to do anything to wipe out his name, his accomplishments, and his teachings from people’s mind. They did not want any history book to consider Jesus as the King of Jews. They did not want any memory to remember the good things he had done and taught. They did not want anyone to remember that he had healed and touched the lives of many.  They did not want anyone to remember the lepers he cleansed, the dead he raised, the sorrowful he comforted, the sinners he forgave, the hopeless he gave hope. They did not want anyone to remember the most beautiful message of all that he preached: “God is love; God loves you.” The main thing the Jewish authorities wanted everyone to remember about Jesus is that he was crucified among criminals—raising doubts that he may not be whom he said he is. The very idea of arresting him, torturing him, humiliating him, hanging him on a tree, and between two publicly known thieves were done to demonstrate that Jesus was fake, a deceiver, and a historic failure. The authorities refused to acknowledge that Jesus was King and they made concerted effort to prevent everyone from seeing him as such. 

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, the rulers mocked and sneered him saying: “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” The soldiers too joined in the festival of mocking him: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” These folks were literally insulting Jesus, challenging him, telling him to show his power. They were literally calling him a fool: “He saved others” but refused to save himself. Jesus’ strength, resilience and power were all tested here. But he remained calm. Through self-restrain and self-control he revealed a new kind of power. As they mocked him, “one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’” The other thief saw what others did not see, and acknowledged what everyone else denied and refused to acknowledge. He noticed that Jesus was innocent: “...but this man has done nothing criminal.” He saw that he was truly the Messiah and King: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Through his request, he acknowledged the Kingship of Jesus. He reached out to Jesus in humility and Jesus reached out to him in love and promised him: “Amen, I saw to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise.” In this, Jesus proclaims himself Ruler and King of a kingdom built on compassion and love.

This gospel tells us that it is never too late to turn to Jesus. Some things are too late for us to do now. Some accomplishments may be too late for us now to achieve. It’s too late for me now to be a football star or world class soccer player. It may be too late for some of us to have another child. It may be too late for some of us to go back to school. It may be too late for some of us now to attempt to climb Mount Everest or any other mountain out there. But when it comes to turning to Jesus Christ, we can never say that it is too late. So long as someone’s heart beats, the invitation to turn to the Lord still stands. As we always say, “When there is life, there is hope.”

The gospel challenges us not to be cowed especially if we are the lone voice of righteousness and uprightness. As more and more people turn away from God, we must strive to remain the lone voice of God in our community. As more and more people deny the Kingship of Jesus, we must be the lone voice shouting in words and in deeds that Jesus Christ is the Lord and King. As more and more Christians become cold and lukewarm in the practice of their faith, our faith must shine out and dispel the darkness around us. As more and more Catholics choose and pick what aspect of our faith they want to believe and practice, we must be the lone voice of truth. To be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ is to be servants of truth- truth that liberates and renews, truth that gives and sustains life and hope, truth that transcends rationalizations, half-truths and delusions, truth that serves as a looking glass for seeing the world in the intended design of God. Jesus, our Lord is the King of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. To be his disciples, we must become servants of all he taught and did.

God bless you!