A Strange and Different King

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 11/25/04)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Mass celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Landsdowne Resort in Ashburn for Catholic Distance University.

If you or I had been given the task of selecting the Gospel reading for this Solemnity of Christ the King, would we have chosen the particular passage we just heard from St. Luke’s account of Christ’s crucifixion? Our choice of a specific Gospel passage would very much depend on how we view Christ as King. Today’s Gospel scene, then, either corrects or confirms the image we have of Christ as King. After all, the description of Christ as King in St. Luke’s Gospel is surely very different and seemingly strange. Christ’s Kingly crown? A crown of thorns. His royal robe? A soldier’s uniform cloak, thrown around His bloody shoulders in mockery and contempt. Christ’s royal jewelry? Nails driven through His flesh. And His Kingly throne? A cross of shame between two criminals. Yes, a very different and seemingly strange sort of King. And yet, King He is.

Christ is King, whose authority over us means humble service, not royal power. Christ is King who does not force a response from us through fear but rather who invites a response from us through love. Christ becomes King — your King and mine — only when we let Him come to us and embrace us in His great love and mercy. Christ becomes King — your King and mine — only when we echo the words of the criminal who kept repeating: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Yes, what a different and seemingly strange sort of King is this Jesus! He is Christ, the King of our hearts and indeed of our lives only to the degree that we freely and willingly let Him be the center of our hearts and lives, our King.

Why do we not let Christ be our King: the One who sustains us, embraces us, nourishes us, guides us, journeys with us, saves us? Why do we not invite Him into the intimacy of our homes, our hearts, our lives? Is it fear that keeps us from making Christ the King the center of all we are and have? Is it fear that we will no longer be in control and that difficult things may happen? Is it fear of surrender? But, why fear, why are we afraid of this King, this Jesus? Is not this the very Jesus who made peace through the blood of His cross and through Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins? Is not this the very Jesus who promised a criminal and who, therefore, promises anyone who admits that he/she is in need of His saving grace: "today you will be with me in Paradise"? Why are we afraid to let this Jesus enter our lives, to let Christ become our King?

Christ as King loves us. He signifies His love for you and me from His royal throne of the cross by His outstretched arms — arms open wide to embrace us and the whole world. His love is unconditional, forever faithful, freely offered. Why are we so slow to accept such love and let that love cleanse us of our sins, whatever they be, and strengthen us for doing good, no matter what happens?

It is not too late. Oh, yes, today is the last Sunday of our current church year. As we look back, there may be opportunities we lost, events we regret, things we did which now torment us. But, there is still time, there is still hope. For a new church year awaits us, beginning next Sunday, a new church year in which we can invite Jesus to come into our hearts and lives more deeply, a new church year in which we can let Christ become our King.

Even as we renew and deepen our resolve that Jesus be the King of our hearts, we equally affirm our desire that others also come to know Him and to love Him, making Him the King of their hearts as well. Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta puts it so succinctly yet so beautifully: "That you have Jesus in your heart and then carry Him to the hearts of others." Knowing Jesus Christ as a Person leads to loving Him as a Person within the community of His disciples, the Church. As people whose King is Christ, as disciples of a crucified yet Risen King, we continue to evangelize and to catechize, pointing to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life and inviting everyone we meet to come to Him. Our efforts at evangelization and catechesis enable Christ’s Kingdom on earth to expand. Thus, a new civilization of love and of life can be created and sustained.

Is not this why Catholic Distance University was founded 21 years ago: to enable people from every walk of life to know and to love Jesus and the fullness of His Gospel as proclaimed in the Scriptures, and by the living Tradition of church and taught by the Magisterium of the Church? Is not this what Msgr. James W. McMurtrie, the priest whose memory we honor this night with such affection, sought to do all his life: to make Christ the Priest visible and present and to nurture God’s people with the life-giving truth of the Gospel? How proud we are to support Catholic Distance University so that its mission may be sustained and strengthened and extended! How grateful we are for the priestly life and ministry of Msgr. McMurtrie and how privileged we are to be here with Msgr. McMurtrie’s family, so that we can renew our prayerful support and our oneness with them as we honor their beloved brother!

Yes, the particular Gospel passage selected for this Solemnity of Christ the King is right on target. It reminds us that you and I can let Christ become our King by our free invitation: "Come, Lord Jesus! Remember me when you come into your Kingdom!" Let us renew our invitation right now and in all the days that follow, so that one day, we may hear those other words, so full of joy and welcome: "Today, you will be with me in Paradise!"

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