Christ is King

I’m American. I like this country, I love this country. It’s still a new concept, the American experience, but it’s been the fascination of the world because of our quick success and immediate rise as a world power.  That said, we revolted against the Brits and the crown, so naturally, all Americans are skeptical to monarchs, although we seem to be fascinated still with the British crown. Perhaps our rebellion didn’t take all the way. Regardless we set up our government in such a way that no one person would have too much power. No kings or queens for us, and anything looking like one person having too much influence we distrust. That includes religion, as good Americans we say, “everything in moderation, including religion and Jesus, don’t overdo it now ya hear!”

that the Catholic Church, which is the kingdom of Christ on earth, destined to be spread among all men and all nations, should with every token of veneration salute her Author and Founder in her annual liturgy as King and Lord, and as King of Kings.(Quas Primas, 12)

Now see, this feast of Christ the King was only instituted in the 1920’s, a relatively new feast.Pius XI did it because he noticed that all these countries were becoming secularized and leaving Christ out of the conversation of normal governance, nor even laying him lip service. Just ignoring him. So Pius thought, unless we are ordered towards Christ we are disordered! True enough.

manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, that is, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord.(https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_11121925_quas-primas.html) par 1

I heard it said, “show me what you worship and I’ll show you what you value.” (Paul Tillich, word on fire Holy hour book, day 2)

Christ must be then the end of all our actions, the impetus to begin everything we do, the reason for how we do what we do, the center of our lives.  If we are not ordered properly, we will be disordered and hurt others, we won’t be able to not.

"all things were created through him and for him Col1.16;nabre

Adoration then is the way out of this, true worship. Adoration of God, Pope Benedict pointed out etymologically means, “ad” “ora,” literally, to the mouth. Unless we are ordered to the mouth of God, to His words, to Jesus, His WORD, we will make a mess of everything and be used by the devil for his bidding. It’s not a wonder why couples kiss, there is an orientation towards the mouth, towards listening to what the other says, “for as the heart is, the mouth speaks.” So adoration of God, or even giving him our kisses or allowing for God to kiss us in prayer, or in reception of the Eucharist “to the mouth!” Puts us in right relation to Him and others.

Think about Mary kissing Christ.

Think about Christ breathing on the apostles after the resurrection.

Think about Christ spitting on the ground to make mud and then wipe it on the blind man’s eyes.

Think about the soldier putting up a sponge filled with sour wine to His lips on the cross.

He is our king, we don’t pay him lip service, we honor Him with our mouths and what goes in and comes out of them. “It’s not what a man eats that defiles him but rather that which comes out.”

Kings:

Your king will come to you on an ass - Mal

Isaias is well known: "For a child is born to us and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God the mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace.

Gabriel, Luke 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David…and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Three wise men brought him gold

"Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself"Jn6.15;rsvce

"You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I confer to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Lk22.28-30;rsvce

Pilate asks Him if He’s a king…

Pilate writes on the cross “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum”

Crown of thorns

Zechariah 13:1 (RSVCE): On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

"On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter.

And the Lord will become king over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be one and his name one. "https://ref.ly/Zec14.8-9;rsvce

Revelation 12:5 (RSVCE): she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

So, the thief on the cross, bad dude, sees Christ, is in terrible stressing awful death, definitely paying the price for his sins. He says, “Remember me, King!” “Today you’ll be with me in paradise!”

So it seems to me, like I wonder when we die, assuming we’ve had confession and last rites will go to our personal judgment, then we review our life and a judgment is pronounced and some purgatory will have to be completed.

This thief, Johnny come lately says, “remember me…”

And he’s rewarded

So if we were to be the one suffering next to Christ, all we’d have to say is “remember me King!”

So is it possible to die upon our crosses next to Christ?

What do the prosperity gospel peddlers say? Christianity without the cross!!, but with all the rewards. Christianity without the cross denies our king.

When it’s your turn to suffer. Climb upon your cross and don’t let go until the suffering ceases. And while you’re there say a prayer, say “Christ, I do this with love, I do this for you and with you, won’t you remember me when it’s my final day? I too wish to steal heaven, for you have stolen me from the grasp of the evil one who had me once.”

Therefore, Christ didn’t just come to save you and forgive you, He came to Lord over you, and that through obedience you too might share His life in His eternal kingdom.