A WORD FOR TODAY 24 NOVEMBER 2019

A WORD FOR TODAY

JESUS CHRIST: A KING LIKE NO OTHER

Today the universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the king. It is the last Sunday of the year and by next sunday we shall begin a new year and cycle in the Church. The celebration of this Solemnity was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to counter atheism and secularism that was being promoted at that time.

This feast proclaims Christ as the Universal king over persons, families, nations and the whole universe. Christ's kingdom is spiritual, universal and eternal. This means that it is a kingdom that will never end like other kingdoms of this world. This solemnity affirms the messianic kingship of Christ who redeemed humanity through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus Christ is a king like no other in existence or would ever be. He is a king who reigned by dying on the cross. The Jews expected a Messiah that will come in majesty and glory, but He came quietly and in humility at His birth in Bethlehem. They expected a king who will have a palace from where He reigns, but he walked the streets everyday, because he has no place to lay His head. He gathered the people around Him and proclaimed to them the message of God's kingdom which will help the people to become members of His kingdom.

Jesus Christ is a king like no other, because the kings of this earth could be despotic and manipulative. They could be selfish and greedy. They could only think of their personal good and gains and not bother about what happens to their subjects. However, Christ is different, because He loved His subjects and He laid down His life as a ransom for them. He is a compassionate, merciful and generous king who is always thinking about the welfare of His children.

Jesus Christ is a king like no other, because at His birth He was proclaimed a king, yet He was not born in a palace bed, but in a manger where animals are kept. At His death He was also proclaimed the king of the Jews, yet He was not sitting on a palace throne, but on the tree of the cross. This is an example in Humility for us. If we are going to be children and disciples of Jesus and members of His kingdom, we must put on the garment of humility, be like Him in all things and at all times and show the world who He is through our words and actions.

Jesus Christ is a king like no other, because He delivered us through His death from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into His kingdom of light and through Him we have redemption and forgiveness of our sins. He is a king like no other because He reigns with love and anyone who follows Him will not walk in darkness.

The Solemnity of today is combined with the procession we should have had on the feast of the Corpus Christi. Therefore, at the end of the Mass we shall all go out to proclaim Christ as the king of the universe. However, it will be beneficial to us when we let Him rule and reign over us as our King. We must submit to Him and strive everyday to be like Him so that in the end we shall enter into paradise like the repentant thief.

The kingdom of God is near to us, therefore, we must repent and believe in the Good News (Mark 1:15) In order to belong to this kingdom we must submit ourselves to the teachings and practices of the Church which represents Christ upon the earth. We must stay in the light always and shine out as God's children. We must love others as He has loved us and we must be ready to lay down our life for them as He laid down His life for us. We can reign with Him if we do good and live a life worthy of our calling as God's children. We must make sacrifices as Jesus did and in the end heaven shall be our reward.

Jesus Christ is a king like no other because He does not pay evil with evil, but has shown us that the way to find God's mercy and forgiveness is to be merciful and to forgive those who have offended us. If we follow His example, we will reign with Him in the kingdom of heaven on the last day. We must be generous and share what we have with others and by so doing we shall find eternal life in Him who has loved us and Has given Himself up for our healing, restoration, deliverance, protection, blessings and total redemption.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have a glorious and blessed Sunday. May Jesus reign in your heart and May He give you the grace to reign with Him through your good works here on earth. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: 2 Samuel 5:1-3/Psalm 122:1-2,4-5/Colossians 1:12-20/Luke 23:35-43

Watch-Word: He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.

Jesus Christ is the universal king that reigns with love and anyone who follows Him must love as He has loved us.*_

(34th Sunday of the Year C: Solemnity of Jesus Christ as the king of the Universe)