Within our American culture we rightfully bristle at the idea of a sovereign authority who would be completely in charge of our lives.
We have seen throughout history and around the world various despots and dictators who have abused the power entrusted to them and who didn’t rule their people with care and concern. This resonates with the famous quote that states, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” While this can certainly be the case with purely human authority, this is not the case with God.
As we approach the final weekend of Ordinary Time, we can ponder the virtues of an ideal leader who shatters the proverbial mold and is “meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). As we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, we can prayerfully consider the objective and subjective dimensions of God’s reign.
At the objective level, Jesus has authority over every power and principality and time and space and created things, both visible and invisible.
Subjectively, we have a daily decision to let Jesus be the king of our lives. He is kind and merciful and wise and has plans for our “welfare and not for woe” (Jer 29:11). The laws and commandments and decrees that have been revealed are not intended to be burdensome but are meant to help us live our best lives in terms of freedom and authenticity. Sadly, our human weaknesses and the lure of sin can prevent us from seeing God’s laws as such. Because of wounds and heartaches, we can even at times doubt the goodness of the Lord. A powerful remedy and healing balm for these challenges is to meditate upon the passion of Jesus Christ.
After being betrayed by one of his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane (a parallel to the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) Jesus was brought before the religious leaders of the day. He was mocked, spat upon and unjustly attacked. He was then taken to Pontius Pilate, the representative of Roman authority. Within their interactions and conversations, Jesus spoke about the kingdom of heaven and said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (Jn 18:37). We believe that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. He willingly entered his passion, suffering persecution and death — “even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8).
In place of a throne made of gold, the king of kings was bound to the wood of the cross. Instead of a crown of precious jewels, Jesus was given a crown of thorns. Rather than having a royal raiment of extravagant clothing, his clothes were removed. Meditating upon this self-sacrificial love of Jesus enables us to unite our own pains and burdens to him and participate in redemptive suffering by carrying our own cross. As our archdiocesan patron St. Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Rom 6:8). May the grace of Jesus present in sacred Scripture and in the Eucharist strengthen us so that we would forever acclaim him as our crucified and resurrected king!
Father Peterson is pastor of St. Odilia in Shoreview.
Sunday, Nov. 24
Solemnity of our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe
