B Cycle – Feast of Christ the King 24

Jn. 18: 33b-37

We so easily acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord of the Universe. The entire world was given to Him by His Father, but do we understand how that impacts us?  Our image of a king has been formed by thousands of years experiencing the rule of kings.  In fact, here in America we rejected the rule of a king because the interest of the king had a negative impact on them.  Our concept of a king is tainted which causes us to be careful about what we would submit to a king.  Yet in salvation history the Israelites demanded the Prophet Samuel anoint a king to rule over them.  Their desire was to be like the nations surrounding them and to have the protection of a king so they could live in peace.  It seems reasonable until you examine what it cost them.

They had to surrender everything, and they willingly submitted because they believed life would be better for them.  Samuel was told by God to inform them about the rights of a king.  The king would “… take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.  He will appoint for himself…. some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.  “He will also take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.  He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves.  He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.  He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.  He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day” (1 Sam.8:11-18).

They gave away everything and the result of having what they desired was ultimately a separation from God.  Currently there are still monarchs in Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia.  But here in America, we have other things which we desire in our lives. Things which we believe would bring us peace and happiness. Instead, those things have caused us to sacrifice our spouses, our children, our wealth, our property, and it leaves us empty.  We have failed to understand how our focus should be “sacrificing our desires” for the joy of living in the peace of God’s kingdom.

Do we seek Jesus Christ as King, lord of our lives?  Or do we seek a comfortable faith where we give up little but still desire to live in God’s Kingdom. We cannot embrace the Lordship of Jesus and maintain control of our own lives.  Jesus surrendered his will to the Father.  In His own words, He only did what the Father told Him.  God makes it clear that what we are seeking is not going to satisfy us.  That lesson is found in every gospel story.  We need to reorient our desires so we can discover what it means to live in the Kingdom of God where Jesus reigns. 

What we surrender is our dependence on self for a dependence Jesus Christ. What is offered us is the ability to live in a world full of turmoil, pain and setbacks and maintain our belief in Christ.  It begins by believing Christ came to restore the glory we lost because we do not like to lose control.  We hold onto a lie, believing we can live a life believing in God without depending on God. 

Today as we celebrate Christ the King of the Universe.  It should be a wakeup call inviting us to enter every area of our lives where is not currently present.  Let us examine ourselves and discover those moments we have received accolades, and we pat ourselves on the back because of our success. We do not have to minimize our God given talents, abilities, and hard work because all those things are a part of who we were created to be. But we do have to acknowledge without God guiding us our successes become barriers preventing us from tapping into the power of God for greater achievements.  Like David, with God we can conquer the impossible.  

We need to acknowledge the existence of Christ who told us He would always be with us.  He would always hear us, and His desire is for us to discover how to live in this world and live in the Kingdom of God at the same time. Hearing His voice directing us and inviting us to find in Him all we seek.  To acknowledge His sacrifice made it possible for us to discover who we were created to become. To become open vessels where the Holy Spirit fills us with life giving wisdom, power, and confidence.

Where is this kingdom?  It surrounds us and is in us.  It is where we know we are loved despite our failures to always live as a child of the light.  It is where we know we can be strengthened in holiness and overcome the attempts of evil to distract us and lead us away from God.  It is where we can worship and know we are joining the choirs of angels giving praise to God. It is where we know we are a delight to our God and our sinfulness is cleansed and clothed in righteousness.   

It is not a place which exists in the future. It is here, and it is discovered when we respond to the call of discipleship.  It is discovered when we give up trying to control our destiny and seek the Kingdom. It is a quest which begins by acknowledging we need something more.  It is where miracles happen every day, where tears are dried, where wounds are healed and where we receive a rebirth as heirs worshiping in the presence of God.  It is where we are embraced and made whole.