RENEWsletter for November 22, 2009 - Christ the King

Dear Renew friends--
The Scriptures for next Sunday kinda made me think about political Inaugural Balls that celebrate a new President or Governor, or even, I suppose, a new Mayor. Well you know, someday the Lord is going to recall all the heads of state of the Earth, and the Inaugural Ball for the King of Kings will be like nothing this Universe has ever seen in its 14 billion years (or so) of history. The heavenly coronation will be bigger than the Big Bang, brighter than all the galaxies combined, more beautiful than... well, we'll all ooh and ahh till we're hoarse! And the best part? Admission is free! And we are all invited! :-)

Next Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, the end of the Liturgical Year, the last Sunday before Advent begins. The Readings are found on the web at: http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112209.shtml and in your Bible in:

Daniel 7.13-14
Psalm 93.1, 1-2, 5
Revelation 1.5-8
John 18.33b-37

In the First Reading, the prophet Daniel describes the coming of the King of Kings (Dan 7.13). This is the Grand Recall when all the world's leaders hand dominion, power, glory, and kingship over the Son of Man (v. 14 first part). But strangely, this doesn't appear to be done grudgingly, or as a result of defeat in a military action, or a popular recall election. No, "all peoples, nations, and languages serve him" (v. 14 second part). It's like the whole planet is relieved to see him come.

The Responsorial Psalm describes that Great Inaugural Ball. "Splendor", "majesty", "holiness", "strength" (Ps. 93.1,2). These words describe how the people feel about this King whose decrees are worthy of trust (v. 5). Again, it's like the whole of mankind is glad to see Christ come and set things aright.

In the Second Reading, St. John in his apocalyptic Book of Revelation describes some of the reasons why the coming of the King of Kings is such a joyous occasion. He loves us and has freed us from our sins (Rev. 1.5). He has made us into a kingdom of priests for God (v. 6). He will be "coming in the clouds" and every eye will see him (v. 7). Verse 7 then adds, "even those who pierced him". I look at this verse two ways. One, his coming will somehow be witnessed all over the world at the same time, so it won't be a physical arrival from some point in space. It will be a physical arrival from ALL points in space simultaneously. Two, his coming will somehow be witnessed all through time simultaneously, even by those who crucified him and have been dead a long time. Maybe Jesus's claim that "this generation will not pass away till all these things have taken place" (as we read in last week's Gospel, Mark 13.30) will turn out to be literally true, and history will be changed! It could happen. ;-)

Well, Revelation is often hard to understand, but the Gospel Reading isn't. Another or the same St. John describes Jesus when he stood before Pilate in about 33 AD, Earth time (John 18.33). The Grand Recall wasn't to occur at that time. And Pilate was a politician. He knew how to handle rabble rousers. He knew how to deal with emissaries from Rome. He knew how to manipulate the leaders of the Jews. But he couldn't figure Jesus out (v. 37). Here was this guy claiming to be a King, yet he wasn't even mildly upset by the fact that he was about to be executed!

A good example for us was set there that day. And it came at a time when reliable written accounts were being made of happenings. We can be sure that this actually did happen at about the time it claims to have occurred. Jesus's kingdom is not of this world, this physical planet in this particular time-stream (v. 36). His kingdom is outside of space and time, and yet inside our hearts and minds. This is what enabled him to stand before Pilate, mildly amused at the whole thing.

Can we approach the vicissitudes of life with the same calm, mildly amused demeanor of Jesus? Give it a try this week. And may God show us just how richly he can bless us!

Randy Jones
"Those who cannot see beyond today say that hope is gone!"