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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
2 Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 122:1-5,
Colossians 1:12-20, Luke 23:35-43
In the culture of the United States, the idea of a king is somewhat foreign to us. We’ve just experienced the elections, when we choose our government officials in the hope that they will represent us and do what we would have them do. A king is not elected. In ancient thought, a king was someone chosen by God himself, as is witnessed in that first reading from Samuel. A king, rather than being elected to represent the people, was appointed to lead the people, to teach them, to challenge them, to be their shepherd. The king, instead of doing the will of the people, made decisions to which the people were to give their allegiance. Sounds something like a dictatorship, and in certain cases, it was. We do have wonderful examples among the saints, like St. Louis of France and St. Wenceslaus, who were holy kings of their people.
Jesus Christ, of course, is the King of kings. But what does this mean for us? Do we treat him as our King, our Lord, our Master, and our Teacher? Is Jesus Christ Lord of our lives? I think so often I try everything in my power to get things to come out the way I want them. Making Jesus Lord of my life means giving everything over to him, my actions, my emotions, my thoughts, my will, everything, so that I do everything the way He wants. Then Jesus is my Lord and my God.
There is a simple action that is so meaningful. When we enter Church, are we aware of Jesus, our King and God, present in the tabernacle in the form of the Eucharist? The ancient recognition of our God’s presence is to genuflect. To genuflect means to bend the right knee to the floor, (or as far as we can if we have knee problems) to the Eucharistic presence of Christ in the tabernacle. Notice we only genuflect to the Eucharistic presence of Christ. That is because Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, and symbolically present in the altar, the priest, and the congregation. Therefore, we genuflect to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but bow to the altar, priest and congregation.
This action of genuflecting to Jesus in the Eucharist has a biblical origin: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess to the glory of God the father that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Let us remember, as we enter the church to genuflect before Jesus Christ our King. Let us remember in our actions with others to confess with our tongues that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let us remember in our hearts and minds to live with Jesus Christ as our God.
List of all Reflections:| Posted | Title |
| 10/31/2012 | November 4, 2012 - Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/24/2012 | October 28, 2012-Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/17/2012 | October 21, 2012-Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 02/29/2012 | Second Sunday of Lent | | 01/31/2012 | | | 01/18/2012 | Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 08/24/2010 | August 29th | | 08/17/2010 | August 22, 2010 | | 08/12/2010 | Assumption of Mary | | 05/25/2009 | Pentecost
The Birthday of the Church | | 05/29/2008 | Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/16/2006 | 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 10/13/2006 | 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 06/28/2006 | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | | 01/23/2006 | January 29th, 2006 | | 01/16/2006 | January 22nd, 2006 | | 01/09/2006 | January 15th, 2006 | | 01/02/2006 | Epiphany | | 12/28/2005 | New Years Day | | 11/21/2005 | First Sunday of Advent | | 11/14/2005 | Solemnity of Christ the King | | 11/09/2005 | November 13, 2005 | | 09/27/2005 | October 2, 2005 | | 09/19/2005 | September 25, 2005 | | 09/13/2005 | September 18, 2005 | | 09/05/2005 | September 11, 2005 | | 08/31/2005 | September 4, 2005 | | 07/11/2005 | July 17, 2005 | | 07/07/2005 | July 10, 2005 | | 07/06/2005 | July 3, 2005 | | 06/21/2005 | June 26, 2005 | | 06/14/2005 | June 19th, 2005 | | 05/23/2005 | Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ | | 05/16/2005 | Holy Trinity Sunday | | 05/09/2005 | Pentecost | | 05/05/2005 | May 8, 2005 | | 04/26/2005 | May 1st, 2005 | | 04/18/2005 | Fifth Sunday of Easter | | 04/11/2005 | Fourth Sunday of Easter | | 04/06/2005 | THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER | | 04/06/2005 | Divine Mercy Sunday | | 04/05/2005 | Holy Thursday Homily | | 03/27/2005 | EASTER | | 03/25/2005 | The Passion of John | | 03/14/2005 | PALM SUNDAY | | 03/07/2005 | FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT | | 02/28/2005 | Fourth Sunday of Lent | | 02/23/2005 | Third Sunday of Lent | | 02/14/2005 | Second Sunday of Lent | | 02/10/2005 | First Sunday of Lent | | 02/07/2005 | Ash Wednesday | | 01/31/2005 | Feb. 6, 2005 | | 01/24/2005 | January 30th, 2005 | | 01/17/2005 | January 23, 2005 | | 01/10/2005 | January 16, 2005 | | 01/05/2005 | January 9th, 2005 | | 01/02/2005 | January 2, 2005 | | 12/28/2004 | Mary, Mother of God - Jan. 1st | | 12/26/2004 | Feast of the Holy Family | | 12/22/2004 | Christmas | | 12/13/2004 | Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14. Psalm 24: 1-6.
Romans 1:1-7. Matthew 1:18-24. | | 12/06/2004 | Third Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10. Psalm 146:6-10.
James 5:7-10. Matthew 11:2-11.
| | 12/01/2004 | Second Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10. Psalm 72, 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17.
Romans 15:4-9. Matthew 3: 1-12 | | 11/29/2004 | First Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5. Psalm 122:1-9.
Romans 13:11-14. Matthew 24:37-44. | | 11/22/2004 | The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
2 Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 122:1-5,
Colossians 1:12-20, Luke 23:35-43 |
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