As today we celebrate this final Sunday of the Liturgical Year, we are given the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This title of Jesus reveals why every human heart seeks Him, because He is Creator of all, and in Him everything finds its existence and salvation. Here are just a few Psalms which make this point:
Psalm 42: 1-2. “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God”.
Psalm 63:1. “O God, you are my God – it is you I seek. For you my body years; for you my soul thirsts, in a land parched, lifeless, and without water”.
The above citation from Psalm 63 illuminates the challenge of finding the God for whom our souls thirst in a world that is so full of contradictions to life. Perhaps this present culture of noise, polarization, so willing to dehumanize others is the reason more and more people are turning to the Church in their search for stability, truth, meaning and purpose – in their search for God.
The Church’s own understanding of herself admits that while holy, because the Church embodies Christ, at the same time in her humanity she is always in need of being purified, and always follows the way of penance and renewal. (See Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium, No 8, Second Vatican Council) Christ established the Church and continually sustains her on earth. Christ as the Universal King is found in and through the Church, in Word, Sacrament and in her members, especially through acts of charity.
Christ came into the world to manifest the Living God; to make known the invisible God so that we might have life. This is the teaching of St. Paul in the Letter to the Colossians:
He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross, whether those on earth or those in heaven. (Colossians 1: 15-20)
The ultimate revelation of God in Christ, of God’s love through Christ, is manifested on the cross. On this Feast of the Universal Kingship of Christ our attention is drawn to Christ on the cross, and his words to the ‘good thief’ who asks that Jesus remember him when he comes into his kingdom. To him, Jesus responds: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 43)
Call to mind another reference to a thief when Jesus spoke about being the Good Shepherd. “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10: 10-11)
In our world there is so much deception, destruction and death. Is it any wonder so many people are searching for stability, meaning, purpose, life? Is it any wonder they find what they seek in Christ? in the Church?
Jesus offers life because He is Life. Jesus helps us find our way through this life because He is the Way. Jesus has the answers to our deepest questions about life because He is the Truth. (see John 14:6)
Ultimately, the Church exists because Jesus founded the Church through his apostles as the entity through which He continues to communicate his truth (Gospel) and grace (Sacraments) to all. The Church exists as the entity through which we still encounter Christ today, and through Him we receive the gift of mercy and salvation.
On this Feast of the Universal Kingship of Christ, may we who make up the Church be credible witnesses to Christ. May we as the Body of Christ help others hear his call: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) May we, the members of the Body of Christ, reveal to the world the mystery of the Lord.
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