Nearly every crucifix includes the inscription, INRI, Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews. When Pilate asked, “Are you king of the Jews?” Jesus did not deny the accusation. Little did Pilate realize that Jesus of Nazareth is a king, but not by worldly standards.
For much of recorded history, kings, queens or emperors governed most countries. By instituting this feast nearly a century ago, Pope Pius XI was addressing many injustices that had risen in Europe following the First World War. Its lesson then is just as relevant today.
This feast celebrates Jesus ruling over all creation from his heavenly throne, offering eternal life to those who listen. Notice in his dialogue with Pilate, Jesus shifts the focus away from himself as king to speaking instead about his kingdom. “My kingdom does not belong to this world.”
Since his kingdom does not belong to this world, it bears no resemblance to historical kingdoms. When we pray, “thy kingdom come,” we aren’t expecting any new worldly form of governance. What then are we asking for? “Thy kingdom come” is a plea for God to transform our world into his kingdom. That would mean an end to injustice, hatred, greed, materialism, hostility, and violence of any kind.
What matters in God’s kingdom is our union with God. For that to happen, the values of our world must be scrapped. Gone would be the self-centeredness that leads us to sin, racism, murder, abortion, genocide, greed and abuse of any kind. In its place, there would be the spirit of caring for others and giving to those who have less. People would be good, civil, and kind to one another. For God’s kingdom to come, justice and charity must prevail. We must love one another the way God loves us.
Praying for the coming of God’s kingdom means letting go of worldly values that conflict with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Doing so places us in union with God and brings peace to our world. There is no place in God’s kingdom for prejudice of any kind for in this kingdom, love prevails.
Would we be content to have less so that others can have more? Would we welcome migrants from Central America seeking a better life? Would we be color blind to those of a different race? Would we agree that all lives matter including blacks, the unborn, the terminally ill, inmates on death row, and those of a different faith? Would we welcome anyone to our neighborhood regardless of their orientation or ethnicity? Fr. Pedro Arrupe, who served as superior general of the Jesuits, observed, “Love of God, which does not issue in justice for others is a farce.”
The kingdom of God comes with a price not every Christian is willing to pay. I think back to those who protested angrily when we mounted crosses in memory of the victims of racial prejudice or when I urged us to carry on the works of Christmas in response to the capitol uprising. I later listened to some who heatedly objected and then left the parish, unwilling to see that every social justice issue is an endeavor to bring about God’s kingdom.
Listening to them, I wondered, “Is Christ your king or have you chosen someone else?” That is a question we all must answer. If he is your king, what have you done to bring about his kingdom? Are you willing to resist hatred, bigotry and prejudice? Do you look for ways to help the less fortunate? This feast challenges us to live in such a way that others can say, “He or she is certainly a Christian. I can see God in that person.”
This feast provides a timely opportunity for us to review the quality of our commitment to Jesus Christ. By the way we live, we declare where our loyalties lie. Down through the centuries his followers have imitated his example. If we take his call seriously, Christ will be there to meet us in the end.
Unlike Pilate, we know who Christ the king is. I pray that my critics also now know who he is and see him as their king too. We who seek his kingdom want an end to this era. We want an end to starvation. We want an end to all epidemics. We want an end to gun violence. We want an end to cruelty and injustice. We want an end to the horrors that dominate the headlines and so we pray, “thy kingdom come.” When we carry out his command to love God and one another, we help to bring about God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven