Solemnity of Christ the King, Cycle C

Prayer  

Almighty and living God whose will is to restore all things in your Son, the King of the universe. Grant that we may render your service and proclaim your praise. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3

In order to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we must begin with the Kingdom of Israel. Our 1st Reading assumes we know about King David who succeeds Saul. However, for the Jewish people, God is King of all kings and it is God who will
anoint the earthly king to lead the house of Israel.

We read that Samuel anointed David to succeed Saul. With this anointing the tribes of Israel approach David and declare loyalty to him. The tribes of the south in Judea had accepted David as shepherd and king and now the northern kingdom does so after David led them in battle. David promises and pledges all his energies to proceed as shepherd, “through thick and thin.”

David must be a loyal shepherd. Royalty necessitates protection of the marginalized – the weak, the needy, and the lowly. So royalty means loyalty.
Only after Christ is enthroned on the cross do we understand the loyalty of God. He is truly the royal-loyal King of the Universe.

Question:

Am I loyal to the marginalized? How has Christ been loyal to me?

2nd Reading: Colossians 1:12-20 

In this 2nd reading from Paul to the Colossians, the author speaks of the Father’s actions in delivering “us from the power of darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”

Paul connects Jesus royal status with deliverance from a sinful past and being brought into a sense of friendship with God. Jesus fulfills his Father’s mission of reconciliation by his loyal acceptance of death on the cross, “making peace by the blood on the cross.”

It is hard to imagine a king who would do this for his subjects. God’s loyalty far surpasses the loyalty of any human king, prince, or governor. Our Lord is truly the royal-loyal King of the Universe.

Question:

How does my call to discipleship assist my faith to be loyal to Christ?

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

For Luke the name of Jesus (1:31-32) and his birth in Bethlehem, the city of David (2:11) indicate Jesus’ royalty. However, the designation of Jesus as “king of the Jews” is more than a little ironic.

In his lifetime, one can’t imagine Jesus referring to himself as a king. He didn’t live in the midst of royalty. He had no armies and didn’t rule with great power. Instead, he was crucified by the Roman establishment, accused of being a political threat.

However, looked at through the eyes of faith, Jesus was royalty. Ironically the inscription above Jesus’ head on the cross was: “This is the King of the Jews!”
Jesus accepted the ridicule of mockers rather than the homage of followers because greatness means serving to save the lost (19:10). It is
such loyalty that legitimates the title of King of the Jews. Royalty means loyalty.

Only in Luke do we find the famous conversation between Jesus and the “good thief.” Here, we find the loyal King absolving a contrite – yet sinful – man. With his dying breath, the “good thief” is able to show respect and loyalty to the King of kings. With His dying breath, Jesus is able to offer a gift of Paradise.
Truly, Jesus Christ is the loyal-royal King of the Universe!

Question:

Am I rejected by friends or family for my loyalty to Christ?

Group Prayer

The group offers this prayer to the King on the Cross:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who at the sixth hour mounted the wood of the Cross for the redemption of the world and who shed Your Precious Blood for the remission of our sins, we humbly beg You, please grant us the grace after death to enter with joy the gates of paradise.
You live and reign for ever and ever. Amen

The prayer continues with Psalm 122.

Psalm 

Response: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Conclude with an Our Father