In the time of Jesus, the people wanted to unite around a king, a new David, who would deliver them from their enemies and oppressors. At first, they thought that Jesus was such a Messiah. But in today’s Gospel, we see that, in the end, they rejected Jesus as their king, they mocked Him and handed Him over to be crucified. It was one of the thieves crucified with Him who recognized something of the truth of Jesus’ claim to kingship. He prayed, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Christ breaks down the barriers and divisions that we set up between ourselves because of our selfishness and fear. Christ establishes a new way for us to relate to God and to each other: His love is the life force of the kingdom of God.
Jesus is the most unlikely figure of a king. He is rejected. He is crucified. His kingdom is not of this world. The Kingdom of God, where Christ the King rules over the minds and hearts of all those who believe, will finally be revealed in heaven. But already, in the life of the Church, His body, the men and women of our world can experience the peace and reconciliation for which Christ came. As we gather around the cross of Jesus, we learn that His death overcomes our selfishness and sin; His resurrection empowers us to live His new life and even now to experience the reconciliation and peace of His kingdom. On this feast of Christ the King, then, let us celebrate the fulfilment of God’s plan, but let us commit ourselves once again to the ongoing work of reconciliation and peace in our world.