Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today we come to the end of the Church’s liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Next week, we begin the circle of the Church’s remembrance of Jesus all over again with the First Sunday of Advent.
The years do go by faster and faster, it seems, as I get older. But the story of Jesus remains the same.
He came to us “in the fullness of time” and when we were in desperate need of a savior.
This was brought about by the message of an angel. We gratefully remember Mary’s “Yes” to God’s plan for us. He was born in Bethlehem, in poverty, but the wise recognized him for who he was, “King of kings.”
We remember the few stories of Jesus as a child. He grew up as one of us, although without sin. At an early age he was already teaching the teachers in the temple, as his parents worried about his whereabouts.
His last three years on earth were spent preaching about the reign of God, telling us that the poor will become rich, and the rich will become poor, the empty will be filled and the full will be emptied. He taught us about carrying our crosses, the forgiving love of God, and the desire to bring us together as one.
He called disciples to himself, just as we hope to be numbered among this group of followers. But we also recall that he told us that not all who call him “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of his Heavenly Father will be counted among the chosen.
On the night before he died for us, he took bread and called it “my body.” He took wine and called it “my blood.” He also said that those who eat his body and drink his blood will have life eternal. We remember his words at every Holy Mass.
On Good Friday he died to forgive our sins, refusing to deny himself as God’s son.
Then, three days later, he rose in triumph. His life’s work was vindicated: he was truly the world’s savior.
Jesus calls all of us to die to self if we want to rise with him. And we remember that he told us that those who have faith in him will live forever. We call this Good News!
And, after he ascended into Heaven, he gave us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit unites the Church, guides the Church, teaches the Church, and reminds the Church of everything I said above and much more.
All of the above is what we have remembered in the last year — in brief. We start to retell the memory of our Church from the beginning again next week.
But, this Sunday, now at the end of our Church year, we remember that Jesus promised to come back to us. And we place everything under his rule. We say, “Jesus is Lord” or King of the Universe.
It might seem odd to others, but the story of his kingship today is placed in the context of his crucifixion. He is not a king who conquers with human power. He is a king who conquers with divine love.
The lordship of Jesus is marked by his great care for us, his humble service, his desire for our good, and his self-sacrifice for the world.
This is the Jesus who has walked with us in the last year. It is this Jesus that will walk again with us in the next year. He will be with us until the end of time — and beyond.
It is to this Jesus that we give our lives. It for this Jesus that we open our hearts.
And it is this Jesus that we allow to rule over us, over our church, over our families, and over our world.
Finally, as someone said, “If Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.”
May we remember to make Jesus Lord of all, to set him above all we do, and to listen to his direction. Our hope is to become citizens of his Kingdom. Although, we do the will of Jesus imperfectly, we trust in his mercy. He is a good king after all. A king who gave his life for us to save us from our sinfulness and our human folly.
Our hope is that the story of God’s love has been imprinted in our memories and the seal of the king stamped on our hearts. And the Lord’s command is for us to tell his story, so that others may allow him to rule their lives as well.
Have a blessed week everyone and happy Thanksgiving. May we always be grateful to God from whom all blessings flow.