On this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, remember that Christ rules not as a conqueror, but as the Good Shepherd.
Christ Our King, Thy Kingdom Come
My childhood image of a king has a crowned man robed in red commanding everyone as his attendants jump nervously at his every word and gesture to avoid his wrath. As He seems to enjoy doing with earthly power images, God upends this cold, authoritarian figure. Christ our King, who is God, became a human unborn child, then laborer and preacher before dying among criminals as a servant of all people. And now… He rules over the great unending Kingdom.
Has any worldly ruler embraced shame to save the lives and future of the kingdom’s people? Not just family or friends, but everyone, to the lowliest servant or slave?
As we sing praise for the power and might of Jesus, through whom all things were made, on this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (November 22 this year), I’m awed and uplifted by the day’s first Scriptures, which praise not His power and glory, but His concern and benevolence for His Kingdom’s people: no longer subjects or slaves, but children lovingly and constantly tended by our Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd Tends His Flock Himself
“I myself will look after and tend my sheep” read the lector at one year’s Solemnity (from Ez 34:11), and tears sprang up. Fear, frustration, and tension melted away, for only seconds earlier my heart cried out, “Now, where do I find people who live by Your Truth, Lord?”
Through Ezekiel, God answered instantly, giving a lifeline when imperfect people (including me) set us adrift. Our “faith” in morality and the value of integrity are uniquely shaken when those more particularly expected to adhere to a creed unapologetically act in opposition to their claimed values—be they parents or other family, friends, educators, caregivers, and yes, even vowed religious (they’re human, too).
Relief freed my heart as Ezekiel’s words reminded me that God is in charge, and He has a plan. Do I really think a mere creature can mess something up so bad that our King and Lord of the Universe can’t fix it, particularly when souls are at stake?
Jesus descended to earth not as a roaring, conquering ruler, but as a caring, listening, healing conqueror of hearts. One who laid down His life, not so much for His Kingdom, which would stand regardless of our individual presence in it, but for us—for each individual person He loves so much that He and His angels and saints tirelessly work in, around, and for us so we can all share that Kingdom forever.
And He doesn’t just tend to us, He anoints us to work with Him. As we pray in the liturgy’s Responsorial Psalm (23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6), our hearts, souls, and minds cannot help but sing with praise, rejoicing over God’s power and goodness!
Christ’s power could force us to our knees. Instead, we fall there ourselves in joyful gratitude. And even then… He lifts us into an embrace of love and companionship. Our King is the loving Shepherd of the Universe. What a gift beyond gifts!
King of the Universe
Through whom all things were made, and through whom all things are saved—wrote St. Paul in the Second Reading (1 Cor 15:20-26,28). Present at the world’s creation and its fall through Adam, Christ embraced the Father’s plan to redeem humanity. Adam trusted the serpent to become like a god—but God had already made us image bearers! We lost everything… but the forever-loving Father decreed that “in Christ shall all be brought to life” (22).
Jesus, incarnated and preaching in the Gospel, proclaims His triumphant upending of the serpent’s act (Mat 25:31-46). Separating the sheep and goats is a warning, but also a moment of utter glory: the promised Kingdom has come!
And Jesus reminds us that no earthly thing is needed: no physical, political, or financial power. Not even knowledge or skills. He wants only what He gave: love and obedience! Whoever follows His way of love and strives to obey His explanations of what love truly is—those He happily places on His right.
To Be Like God
When I felt lost because of others’ actions and their unhappy fruits, God stepped in. He prompted my own examination of integrity between words and actions, then moved the center of my attention from their splinters to… the center of the universe: Christ, Our Lord and King.
Enthrone love, He seemed to say, not our feelings nor others’ actions. (However, it is right to physically protect ourselves, at times, amid this.) We are “like God” when, through prayer and sacrifices, we help even a hurtful soul’s entrance into Heaven. We, like God, can upend a demon’s presumed victory over a soul. Our battle is not with people, but the powers and principalities of darkness (Eph 6:12). Just praying for our offenders is granting forgiveness (not dismissing the wrong), even amid dislike and fear. Mary’s prayers for Jesus’ persecutors did not condone the evil they embraced. Rather, they sought God’s grace outpoured on the offenders, that they would repent and love rightly.
So, emulate our King of the Universe this Solemnity. Honor Him as the Good Shepherd and pray for the salvation of those who unrepentantly hurt you, whom He loves. And feel the King’s presence, loving you and also pained by their wrong. Let us recall our own repeated or unrepented offenses against our King—and His response. Without dismissing the wrong in our actions, He prayed, suffered, and died… for us.
To be like God, make Jesus, our King and Lord of the Universe, the King and Lord of your heart.
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