HOMILY FOR THE THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING YEAR C.
THEME: THE TRUE NATURE OF CHRIST’S KINGSHIP.
BY: Rev Fr Stephen ‘Dayo Osinkoya.
First Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 121: 1-5
Second Reading: Colossians 1:12-20
Gospel Reading: Luke 23:35-43
The Gospel Reading today may sound, for many of us, somewhat contradictory to this joyous celebration of the feast of Christ the King. Many may even argue it: why the story of Jesus’ death on the celebration of his universal kingship?
The image of Jesus on the cross accurately and eloquently captures the true nature of his Kingship. It is radically different from the kings of the world. Christ’s Kingship is eternal, universal and perfect. It is the Kingship, not of force or fear but of the power of love. An extraordinary paradox – Jesus exercises power as he hangs on the cross.
Let us then turn toward the Crucified Lord! He is our true King! In our Christian life, the cross is the best for us. Let us not turn away from it. It is the throne of our King where he offered his life for our sakes.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING YEAR C.
The false perceptions people of our world today have of Christ’s kingship yields nothing, just as the perception of the people of Jesus’s time elicit nothing; but only the call in need, the call of the repentant thief yields the divine words of mercy: ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’
Beloved friends, today the Church wants us to follow the Jesus who reigns on the cross and following him means carrying our crosses too. St Rose of Lima warns us that without the cross, there might be no other ladder by which we might climb to heaven. The Cross is not only the identity of our King but also of his followers. For most of us, Christ is king only when business is growing, riches are flowing in and life becomes very comfortable for us. We tend to lose sight of the kingship of Christ when life becomes challenging and then we give room for other alternatives. The kingdom of God exists in our lives each time we do the will of God.
What is our attitude when persecutions and hardship befalls us? What do we do when the demands of the society contradicts our faith in God? Do we abandon our faith at difficult moments? This is not an invitation for self-induced suffering or for culpable suffering. Rather, it is an invitation to sacrifice, love, tolerance and service to God through humanity.
Today’s solemnity should increase our faith in Jesus even when what we observe in the world tends to discourage us. As the second reading (Col. 1:12-20) reminds us, Jesus is true God and true man, the image of the invisible God. All things were created through him and for him. Since he reigns supreme over all creatures, let us give him an opportunity to truly reign in our lives by avoiding all sinful actions, thoughts and words in order to do his will
May the peace of Christ, the king of the universe continue to reign in our lives. Amen!
Happy Sunday
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