“The King Is Dead. Long Live The King!”

24 Nov

“A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven.”  ~ Charles R. Swindoll

In many cultures, when a king died and a new king was crowned, the crowd would cheer, “The king is dead.  Long live the king!”  In my eyes, this was always a not-so-subtle proof at how quickly humans change their allegiance.  One person is a king.  That person is gone.  Another one steps in.  We cheer the new person and forget the old.

It seems that we are always looking for a “king” in our lives.  We are ruled by different things. Some are ruled by passions such as greed, envy, or lust.  Others are ruled by intellect.  Still others are ruled by humanitarian concerns.  We allow the things that rule us to color our decisions.  At times, we go through life quite blind to others.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  There is no mistaking His kingship and His rule.  He rules with ultimate love and ultimate justice.  Jesus is the King who will never be replaced for He will never die.

Jesus’ rule is, indeed, a rule of love.  “A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven.”  Jesus cared for His people with such a depth of love that He shouldered the cross and died on it so that we could live forever.  His Kingship was proven in what He said and what He did.

Jesus, our King, asks us to follow in His footsteps.  He asks us to love as He loves and to forgive as He forgives.  He asks us to go the distance, taking up our own crosses, in following Him.  If we are willing to do so, He will be with us every step of the way.  He is not reluctant to walk with His subjects.  He does so willingly and with a great amount of love for us.

Today is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time.  When we return to church next week, we begin the Season of Advent, a new year in the liturgical life of the Church.  The season calls us to prepare for the coming of the King when He returns in all of His glory. This weekend, we are providing reflection books for you to use throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. I hope you find that they help you to draw closer to the Lord.

Other Kings have come and gone and still others will come and go.  Our King, Jesus Christ, is eternal and will ever be at our side.  That is the reason we celebrate.  That is what gives us our ultimate hope.  Give glory to the King of kings who, even on the cross, promised the repentant thief that the thief would be with Jesus that day in paradise.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask the Lord for the courage and grace that you need to embrace His will and to live for Him so you may live with Him in paradise.