Cycle C -- Homily -- Christ the King -- 20 November 2022

Cycle C – Homily – Christ the King – 20 November 2022

Also called the Reign of Christ

Lectionary I                                           Lectionary II

2 Samuel 5:1-3                                      Jeremiah 23:1-6  with  Luke 1:68-79

Psalm 122:1-5                                       Jeremiah 23:1-6  with  Psalm 46

Colossians 1:12-20                                Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:35-43                                       Luke 23:33-43

Today is the feast of Christ the King – the last Sunday of the liturgical year.  The new liturgical year – Cycle A – starts next week with the first Sunday of Advent.

Of course, it is probably quite fitting to have the feast of Christ the King at the end of the liturgical year.  At least I think it is.  We begin the year with a waiting period.  Then Jesus is born.  Then he grows up, goes through the crucifixion, and experiences the resurrection.  Then we have Pentecost.  This is followed by about 25 weeks wherein we review the ministry of Jesus.  Finally, we have the Feast of Christ the King – the Crowning achievement, one might say, before it is time to start over.

I looked at the readings for today.  Rather straightforward.  Samuel discusses some points about David being made king.  It is a crescendo-type reading.  The psalmist talks about rejoicing in the house of the Lord.  And then Paul, in the letter to the Colossians, stresses the majesty of what Jesus was called for.  Finally Luke tells us about the crucifixion.

I examined the hints and instructions in various study guides and I found myself wondering if we have a misplaced emphasis with this feast.  Seriously.  Why do we have such a strong emphasis on the Kingdom?  David's story from the first reading is history; the Psalm is about the house of the Lord; Colossians is about majesty; and Luke is about the crucifixion.  The Kingdom concept is veiled at best.

I see two problems.  The first problem is not that Christ is King (He is – that is true!) but rather, my problem is that we 21st Century people have absolutely no idea of what a Kingdom is!  I do not think anyone reading this homily lives in a Kingdom that has the Kingdom concept that the Jews knew.  We do have constitutional monarchies and we do have democratic kingdoms.  Most of us probably learned a few new points about kingdoms with the death of Queen Elizabeth and the ascent of King Charles.  But, we do not know Kingdoms like the Jews knew Kingdoms.  Granted, there are a few absolute monarchies in the world today.  But, that is not what the modern kingdom really is.  The modern kingdom – which is all we really know – has a titular head of state and a democratically elected representative government.  So, we do not really have any experience with what a biblical kingdom is.  And yet, we want to celebrate Kingship.

It would be good to step back in time and see what the Jews meant by Kingdom.  In the Jewish Kingdom, the law was supreme and the prophets went around prodding people to keep the law.  There was no separation between religious and secular law; it was all the same.  The problems the Jews faced included an understanding of which laws should be kept and how the keeping of the laws should be enforced.  Jesus came along and spent a considerable amount of time negating the old law and the old kingdom concept and replacing it with the new law and the promise of the afterlife.  Not a new kingdom – an afterlife.

[Some of the Catholic fundamentalist groups (such as Catholics United for the Faith and FOCUS) have been trying to re-institute the earthy kingdom concept – with the Roman Pontiff assuming the title of King in the place of Christ (since Christ is ascended).  This does not seem like a very good idea to me.]

It is probably just as well that we do not have a concept of an earthly kingdom.  We do not need such a concept.  We do not need to stress the religious and secular absolutism that our Jewish ancestors saw as the Kingdom.  Yes, their concept of Jesus' kingdom was one of benevolence.  But, is that what Jesus is really saying?  Throughout the gospel Jesus tries numerous times to tell his followers that his kingdom is not what they think it is.  Finally the end has arrived – and the fulfillment comes along with it.

Look at the end of the reading from Luke.  The criminal says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus answers him – saying nothing whatsoever about a kingdom.  That needs to be emphasized!  Jesus says nothing about a kingdom.  Instead, Jesus says, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Paradise!!  Not Kingdom!!  What a concept!!

This is interesting because Jesus’ emphasis on Paradise negates – totally negates – the Jewish concept of Kingdom.  Jesus had told his followers a number of times that his kingdom was not of this world.  Why should we even be thinking about earthly kingdoms with absolute monarchs and an intertwining religious and civil law?  We do not understand kingdoms like the Jews did anyway and Jesus told the disciples over and over not to even think about earthly kingdoms.  We try to sneak kingdom-ness into the meaning, even though Jesus does not do that.  Even – and maybe most predominantly – at His death.  Instead, now, here on the cross, Jesus says “Paradise” rather than “Kingdom.”  Jesus admitted to being a king but it seems rather obvious that his kingdom transcends both the earth and the earthly concept of kingdom.  The fulfillment of the law was the cessation of the cultural notion of kingdom.

That brings me to the next point of concern.  “You will be with me in Paradise!”  Why do we have all the emphasis on kingship?  The Jews were obsessed with kingship; they had been obsessed with having a king throughout their history – and despite the admonitions of Jesus.  Why are we still following this ancient obsession?  Jesus was very reluctant to admit he was a king.  Even when he admitted it, he cringed in fear of what he really meant.  We do not listen to this.  We want a king – we do not want Paradise!!

It seems to me that the culmination of this whole feast is found in that last line – “You will be with me in Paradise!”  That is the promise to us too!  Paradise!  Not just an earthly kingdom concept where we are told what to do and where we are protected and governed.  Not at all!  Paradise, a heavenly concept!  Paradise - where we will be released from the bondage of self.  Paradise - where we will be free and happy.  Paradise - where we will understand love and peace.  I think the emphasis of this whole feast should be on that last line – “You will be with me in Paradise!”  Who cares about kingdoms!  Those are of this earth.  But, Paradise – now that is something else!  That is eternal!!

Interestingly, we do not have to wait until we are crucified.  Paradise starts now!  When we are released from the bondage of self, when we experience freedom and happiness, when we begin to know love and peace, then we have stepped into Paradise.  When we pass into the next world, then the rest of the promise will come true.  We will be with Jesus in Paradise.  We can be in Paradise now – partially now and completely when we hear Jesus calling, “Come!  Join me in Paradise!”  Let us begin now by taking that first step into the Paradise that Jesus is inviting us to.  This day we are with Him in Paradise and that Paradise will continue – not as a Kingdom – but as a true Paradise for all eternity!

Dr Roberta M Meehan