The year 1925 is significant. The world wide church proclaimed the last Sunday of the liturgical year as the Feast of Christ the King. In the middle of rapid secularization, looming economic doom and rising totalitarian regimes threatening world peace and stability, the church reminded us then and now that there is one true king. Jesus says often in scripture, “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

Yes, but how is He king? How does He rule? Therein lies the ultimate jest, irony and poetry. Look at this painting. HERE

As Bishop Robert Barron points out, a jest comes from the juxtaposition of opposites. Incongruous things coming together to make us think, even laugh. Does this look like a king? He never had political office, wielded culture influence, he died at the age of 30 tortured to death. He is king? Bringing these two things together is the jest, the irony, the poetry upon which all of Christianity rests. In our reading for this Sunday we read and hear this truth. From Colossians and Luke we receive revelation not only about what kind of king we worship but, also, how we are renewed, transformed. It’s not a pretty picture but meant to be a window to truth.

From  Paul’s letter to the Colossians we learn:

Jesus is before all things, the organizing principle of reality

He is alpha and omega and all letters in between

All the fullness of God resides in Him

He’s not just the greatest of the prophets or one of many messengers sent by God or a symbol of God

He is God from God, light from light, true God from true God

He is the head of the church, He is the beginning, the first born from the dead

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame

Yet, His throne is a cross and His crown is one of thorns digging deeply into His skull. Bloodied and tortured on the cross, He is mocked, jeered at, and the ultimate irony, jest and poetry is the sign above His head written by the Roman authorities “ This is the King of the Jews”. What a strange religion we have. This king is not one of power, authority and domination. This king forgets himself in love, who gives it away, not the one who fills himself up. He empties himself out.

The power of self emptying love is the power that holds all things together.

You want power? You want to be king? You don't give yourself away. Stop trying to fill up your life in a self protective way. Reach out, protect somebody else. As a parent, spouse, friend, neighbor, meeting a stranger.

Even with all the wars, killings, abortions, tragedies, persecutions and the like, Christ is still King. The Church still moves forward in mission and witness. The Holy Spirit is still being poured out like never before and activated in people like you. Come celebrate this Sunday the Feast of Christ the King.

+Philip