FIRST READING: 2 Sm. 5: 1-3. All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David King over Israel. EXPLANATION: Saul, the first king of Israel, was told by the prophet Samuel that the kingship would not remain in his family because he had disobeyed the laws of God. David was chosen by God to replace him and was anointed secretly by Samuel in Bethlehem. Having had to flee from Saul he settled in Hebron. Accepted by the tribe of Judah he reigned there as king of Judah for seven years. On the death of Saul the northern tribes came to him in Hebron and anointed him king over all of Israel. we are . . . flesh: They claim their blood-relationship with him. They and he are sons of Abraham.
you . . . Israel: They are referring to the successful battles against the Philistines when David was an officer in Saul's army (2 Sm. 16:1-19: 7).
you shall . . . shepherd of my people: Shepherd was a familiar metaphor for king (see Mi. 5:3). The tribal leaders are referring to 1 Sm. 16, where we are told that God gave orders to Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint David as king of his Chosen People.
David made a Covenant: Before accepting their offer David made a Covenant, "an agreement before the Lord," with the tribes. They had to promise fidelity and allegiance to him.
anointed . . . king over Israel: He had already been anointed by Samuel as king of Israel. This is a public demonstration that he was accepted by all the tribes, north as well as south. APPLICATION: The institution of the feast of the Kingship of Christ was intended to be a rallying-call to all Christians to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ, not only over all Christians and all men but over all of creation. He is king of all creation because, as the second reading today says, "through him, by him and in him all things subsist." Therefore, he is the sovereign Master, Ruler, Protector and Judge of all created things. The title of King was chosen to express all these prerogatives, because he himself, in his moment of deepest humiliation, admitted to Pilate that he was King. He is given this title in most of the Old Testament prophecies concerning him. The story of David's anointing as king over all of Israel is recalled on this feast of the Kingship of Christ, because David was seen in the Old Testament as a type, a representation, of the future messianic king. The prophet Nathan promised David that a descendant of his would come "who would establish his throne forever" (2 Sm. 7: 16). Isaiah says of the future Messiah, "he will sit on David's kingly throne, to give it lasting foundations of justice and right" (Is. 9: 6-7). In the prophet Jeremiah we read: "Nay, a time is coming, the Lord says, when I will raise up, from the stock of David, a faithful scion at last. The land shall have a king to reign over it, and reign over it wisely, giving just sentence and due reward" (Jer. 23: 5). To crown and confirm the Davidic typology, the Angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary that the child she is to conceive "shall be known as the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor, David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally and his kingdom will have no end" Lk. 1: 32-33). David, although the greatest of the kings of Israel, was but a poor shadow of Christ the King, whose reign extends, not only over all Israel, but over all the universe and all things created in heaven as well as on earth. David's reign lasted a mere forty years. Christ's reign is eternal. David was a mere man, a creature, sinful but repentant. Christ was the God man, sinless and all-perfect, who died on the cross to free all men from their sins. When David died his kingdom was very soon divided and decayed. Christ's death was the beginning of his everlasting reign. His cross was the solid foundation of his kingdom on earth, his Church. It was the preparatory stage of his eternal kingdom in heaven. As far back as the history of man on earth goes, we learn that wherever men lived in groups in society they had a chief, a ruler or king whose laws they obeyed. This is still the case. Living in society would be impossible without some supreme authority with the power to make laws and see that they are carried out. Whether they be kings, presidents or chiefs, our earthly rulers can and should make our lives less difficult and more bearable. For this reason we are bound to respect and obey their laws. But their power is limited, their help is restricted. Even if they could give us all the comforts and privileges that this earth can supply they would be only for a few short years. They cannot reach beyond our graves. They cannot in any way fulfill or satisfy man's higher ambitions. The Sovereign and King whom we commemorate and honor today has the key to death and to unending life. During our lifetime on earth he takes an active interest in our welfare. However, his principal concern is for our real, lasting welfare. He came on earth to bring us to heaven. His power over us and for us does not end, but really begins when we die. When we close our eyes in death we will see him as he is, and realize what he has been to us and what he has done for us. He came so that we should have life and have it abundantly, "whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Let us say a heartfelt "thank you" to our Lord and King, our beloved Savior, today. Let us promise him loyal and faithful service during the years that are left to us here below. When he calls us before his judgment seat we can feel assured that he will welcome us with a "well done good and faithful servant."
SECOND READING: Colossians 1: 12-20. We give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has Delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities---all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. EXPLANATION: For an account of this letter of St. Paul to the Colossians see the Sunday in the Octave of Christmas, and for an explanation of verses 15-20 see the Fifteenth Sunday of the Year.
Give thanks to the Father: The Colossians have reason to be grateful for the great gift of the Christian faith which they have received. They must show their gratitude to God the Father who (with the Son and Holy Spirit) planned this happy fate for them before creation began.
worthy . . . lot of the saints in light: What God had planned for them was the gift of the Christian faith, "to share the lot of the saints." The Christians are often called the saints in the Epistles. The Christian faith was a brilliant light which illumined the dark world of paganism.
delivered us: God rescued Christians from the power of darkness in which the pagan world was immersed, that is, from the darkness of ignorance about God and about man's relationship with him.
kingdom of his beloved Son: Through the sacrament of baptism the pagans who accepted the Christian teaching were made citizens of Christ's kingdom on earth---his Church---and heirs of Christ's eternal kingdom, heaven. It was God the Father who gave all Christians the supernatural privilege of citizenship of his beloved Son's temporal kingdom, and also made them heirs, with a claim on his heavenly kingdom.
in whom . . . sins: Through the sufferings of Christ, our representative, we have been liberated from the bondage of sin, and made God's new Chosen People. The liberation of Israel from the bondage of Egyptian slavery, and their election as the Chosen People of the Old Testament, was a type of Christ's salvific work for all men (see Ex. 15: 13; Dt. 7: 8; Eph. 1:7).
He is the image of the invisible God: In truly incomparable theological language the following five verses express the Christo-centric doctrine of our faith. All creation is from Christ, in Christ and for Christ. He is true God from true God and true man at the same time. Because of his two natures in one Person he is the perfect mediator and the only mediator, not only between God and men, but between God and all created beings in heaven and on earth. He is the head of his Church, his kingdom on earth. He is the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead and the guarantee for all men that they too will not end in the grave. He has reconciled not only man but all of creation with God through his perfect obedience as man. This obedience, in the circumstances, demanded his death on the cross. With his own blood he signed and sealed the New Covenant made with the new Chosen people. APPLICATION: St. Paul tells the Colossians how grateful they ought to be to God for having made them Christians and citizens of Christ's kingdom. The Apostle then goes on to describe who and what their new sovereign is, true God and true man, the true image of the invisible God and at the same time the perfect exemplar of true humanity. This portion of St. Paul's epistle was aptly chosen for this great feast of the Kingship of Christ. Also, it calls to our minds how blessed, how fortunate we are to be Christians, citizens of his kingdom on earth with a guarantee of perpetual citizenship in his heavenly kingdom. This will be so only if we do the little he asks of us while here on earth. Ninety-nine per cent of the citizens of any country on earth, whether it be small or great, rich or poor, are proud of their native land. They respect its ruler and its flag. If called on to defend their homeland against an aggressor they are willing to lay down their lives in its defence. Yet, our native country is ours for only a very limited time. The most it can give us is a few years of temporal happiness mixed with much hardship and trial. On the other hand, Christians and all who, through no fault of their own, are non-Christians but try to do what is right, already have been selected and are being prepared to become free citizens in a kingdom, a home-land, which will last forever. It is one which will satisfy every rational longing of our human hearts. We have a king whose resources are infinite, whose realm is boundless, and whose generosity is without limit. His interest in our eternal happiness and his love for us have been proved beyond all possibility of doubt. "He humbled himself," as St. Paul tells us, "assuming the nature of a slave and in obedience accepted even death---death on a cross" (Phil. 2: 7-8). He became man and allowed himself to be put to death by crucifixion, so as to reconcile us with God and make us citizens of his heavenly kingdom. Therefore, when we have a King who has prepared for us an everlasting kingdom of happiness and perfect contentment, could we hesitate to make the few little preliminary preparations expected of us? Could any Christian be so foolish? Yes, we are all weak at times. We are of the earth, earthy. Things earthly can get a hold on us, but our Christian faith tells us how to free ourselves from our weaknesses and from our worldliness. It tells us to think often of whither we are going, to examine our consciences and our habits of life to see if we are on the right road. It tells us too, to think often, never to forget in fact, all that the good God-man, our Savior Jesus Christ, has done for us and daily is doing for us so that we may reach our eternal homeland. Today is for all Christians a national day. Today, let us raise our Christian flag---the crucifix---aloft, and salute it with fervor and a promise of fervent loyalty. My King has suffered for me. For his sake, I am ready to suffer any trial that comes my way. If needs be, I am prepared to die for him. If he does not ask that supreme sacrifice, I am assuredly ready to live a life of faith, hope and sincere love for him, and of gratitude to him. Honor, glory and thanks forever to Christ our King!
GOSPEL: Luke 23:35-43. The people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at Jesus, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save thyself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." EXPLANATION: All four Evangelists tell us that when Jesus was crucified on Calvary there was an inscription written on the upper arm of the cross which said that he was "King of the Jews." The leaders of the people, the Sanhedrin, had tried to persuade Pilate to condemn Jesus to death "because he made himself God," but the pagan Pilate paid no heed to that charge. They then accused him of making himself King, but Pilate cast this accusation out of court also. Then, they played their trump card. They threatened to report Pilate to Rome for failing to condemn a rebel who was subverting the loyalty of the people, forbidding them to pay taxes to Caesar, and calling himself a king. Pilate thought more of his job than of his justice. He condemned Jesus, while admitting that he was innocent. To the disgust of the leaders he insisted on putting the title of the crucified criminal, "King of the Jews," over his cross. In doing this, Pilate was proclaiming to the world, that these vengeful leaders of the people had condemned the messianic King, for whom they had been waiting for centuries, to the shameful death of the cross. He was doing even more. He was proclaiming that the innocent one who hung on that cross was the "King of Kings" the King of this world and of the next.
rulers . . . scoffed: While the inscription disgusted them, the sad state of their innocent victim gave them pleasure. They tried to increase his suffering by adding insult to injury.
he saved others: He had healed many. He had even raised people from the dead. This they could not deny, but they challenge him now to save himself. He could have done so, but his obedience to his Father's will demanded that he should not.
If you are the king of the Jews: If they were pagan Roman soldiers, they must either have learned something of the Jewish expectations of a messianic King who would be a miracle worker, or they just mimicked what the Jewish leaders had said.
Are you not the Christ?: The two criminals crucified with him were Jews and understood what Messiah meant. One of them blasphemed him. He challenged him to set himself and them free from the crosses to which they were nailed.
the other rebuked him: His companion answered the blasphemer saying: "Have you no fear of God, seeing you are under the same sentence?"---in other words, "you are mocking an innocent man. We deserve what we are getting, but this man is innocent." He then said to Jesus: "Remember me when you enter upon your reign." It is clear from these words that he expected Jesus to reign after death. He had been given some revelation as to who Jesus was.
today you will be with me in Paradise: These few words of admission of his sins, of faith in the messianic kingship of Christ ("when you enter upon your reign"), and a humble prayer for mercy, won for this "good" thief an immediate entrance into heaven after his death. APPLICATION: Down through our history thousands and millions of subjects have died for their kings. This was their duty when the needs or the defence of their realms demanded such a sacrifice. They neither expected nor received much praise for it. But we Christians are serving a King who died for us. The ruler and head of our kingdom is Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, who accepted crucifixion as the climax of the perfect obedience to his Father. He became man in accordance with God's eternal plan. He, as man, was the representative of all humanity. He gave perfect obedience to God and thus made atonement for all the disobedience, of the human race. All the acts of penance and atonement of the whole of humanity put together, could not reconcile us sinners with God. Christ, being God as well as man, was able to make and did bring about, this reconciliation. He has, as St. Paul says, "reconciled everything . . . making peace through the blood of his cross." Today we are honoring this King, a King who humbled himself in order to raise us up to the status of sons of God, a king who suffered the cruelest of deaths so that we could have an unending life of happiness when we leave this earth. Do we really honor our king as we should? Do we really meditate often enough on all he has done for us? Do we really appreciate the supernatural privilege conferred on us by the Incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ? We are no longer mere mortals, we are sons of God. We are no longer enemies of our Creator and Lord, we have been reconciled to God and can call him "Our Father." We have still to die our earthly death but it is now the door to heaven. Unfortunately, we still can sin but we have the means of atonement within our reach, in the sacraments which Christ left to us. Any Christian who fails to get possession of the eternal heritage which Christ has made available to him will fail because he willingly and knowingly wished to do so. Please God there will be few such people because Christ our King is always with us, helping us on our journey to heaven. What we say of Christians is true also of all who are non-Christians, through no fault of their own. Many of us will get some pleasant surprises when we meet the elect of God on our arrival in heaven. To get there is our present principal preoccupation. But it is not so hard. Keeping the laws of one's country and carrying out their legal obligations is not difficult for the vast majority of sane people. Keeping the laws of God's Kingdom and being loyal to him is not difficult either. Serving God is a privilege not a duty for the Christian who realizes what God has done for him and who appreciates what a future reward God has in store for him. Today let us renew our loyalty to Christ our King. We are privileged and proud to be his subjects. As members of his Church on earth we are as yet in the preparatory stage of that kingdom. If we do the little that he asks of us, during this period of preparation, we are assured of being full citizens in his eternal kingdom of happiness and peace.-c407
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