The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lk 23:35-43
November 20, 2022

Last week, Charles III dedicated the first posthumous statue of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The event occurred in the city of York, England. The 7-foot, 4,000-pound limestone image has been placed on a niche above the entrance to the largest Gothic cathedral in Britain. The sculpture shows the late monarch in regal robes complete with a diadem (crown of sorts.) She is holding an orb and scepter, symbolic of her role as the head of both church and state. One of the most recognizable faces in the world for most of the last century, the monument is portrait quality.

The occasion was celebrated by a throng of cheering people gathered in the square in front of the Cathedral, now renamed in her honor. In spite of the fact that “royalty” is resoundingly rejected in this country, the event, much like her recent funeral and all other public events involving the “royal family,” was widely broadcast here. Americans seem to have a fascination with “crowned heads.”

That celebration offers a stark contrast to the Feast of Christ the King, with which we conclude the liturgical year.

On Good Friday, when Jesus mounted The Throne of The Cross, there was no throng of cheering supporters, only the jeers of a crowd unified in their rejection of, and hatred for, this prophetic activist. The message that so inflamed this diverse group of religious leaders, Jewish politicians, Roman soldiers, and even common people…raised a threat to the world view of each.

He was not clothed in royal garb, but stripped of all earthly evidence of who He was…a poor carpenter from Nazareth. His horrific wounds, inflicted by those who were determined to silence Him, were outward signs of failure. He was left to die with a crown on His head…a CROWN of THORNS. A final mockery was the written declaration posted over His Cross…His throne…to the effect that He was “King of the Jews.”

There is no video footage of Him, no detailed portrait, no easily identifiable statute. We can only speculate what a Jewish peasant in first century Palestine would have looked like.

Through the Gospel, however, Jesus has left us the perfect Self-portrait. He encourages us to recognize Him in the faces of the poor, the marginalized, the sick, the homeless, the immigrant…our neighbor. “The Face of Christ the King” is not memorialized in 4,000 pounds of limestone…but in suffering flesh and blood.

Many artists have attempted to create images of what we celebrate today. Paintings and statues show Him clothed much like the royal lady overlooking the cathedral square in York. The wounds are covered in lavish robes. The crown of thorns is replaced by a jewel encrusted diadem. Christ the King is often depicted, like Elizabeth II, with an orb and scepter. (Although, arguably, it was not The Lord’s intention to propose a new religion…or to become the head of church and state. His purpose was to announce a radical new world order…a way in which the will of God would be done on earth as it is in heaven.)

We have to be cautious when we look at these images showing Christ as an earthly monarch. They can be misleading. In truth, Jesus of Nazareth specifically rejected such things. His kingdom was not of this world.

His ambition was not to dominate as with earthly dictators. He came to liberate all humankind from whatever world order…world view…political system…even religious tradition that proved to be oppressive. His mission was to identify all human beings as children of God…members of the most royal of households…called to be a unified and holy nation.

Someday, that limestone lady will fade into history. Maybe time will erode her, or a natural disaster wash her away, or violence destroy her. But the Reign of God is eternal…as it was in the beginning…is now…and ever shall be…without beginning and without end.

These are the truths we celebrate as we end this liturgical year and look forward to the First Sunday of Advent. So then, why not make a New Year’s resolution?

In the coming new year, let’s resolve to work extra hard to ignore the fleeting things going on around us. Instead, let’s focus on becoming more and more fascinated…preoccupied with…totally committed to…the Reign of God.

If we try our best to do that, it will be a Happy New Year!