November 22, 2009: Solemnity of Christ the King

Today is the last Sunday of the Church year, next Sunday is our “new years” celebration: the First Sunday of Advent. So, as we end the year, we spiritually make the action that the year’s discipleship has been building toward: we crown Christ as King of the Universe. The readings, then, are selected to complement this theme. The Gospel is the story of the sign, “King of the Jews” placed over Christ’s head as He hung on the Cross. The first and second reading are “visions” of the cosmic crowning of Christ. What we see, though, when we look behind the curtain of language is a very different definition of power. Kings are powerful. They rule. And when is Christ MOST powerful? I’ll tell you: it’s when He is hanging on a Cross! This re-defines power and weakness. The weak wielded swords, lances and crosses. The powerful bore the suffering they inflicted with the purpose of lifting them and all humanity a little higher. Where is your power, today, and, where your weakness? The Gospel suggests you think very carefully on this.