R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Pilate said to Jesus,
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Things are not always as they seem. There is a great difference between a mirror and a mirage.

In today’s Holy Gospel account, Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Perhaps it was because he could not believe his own eyes. Jesus was not dressed in royal clothing nor was he adorned with gold and jewels. We read in Isaiah, “He had no majestic bearing to catch our eye, no beauty to draw us to him¹”.

Jesus answered the Roman governor’s questions by declaring that He is a king, but not of this world. He did not come to rule over peoples and territories but to set people free from the slavery of sin and to reconcile them with God.

Yet, in spite of Pilate’s unbelief, today the Roman Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 to remind the faithful that while governments and philosophies come and go, Christ reigns as king forever over all of creation. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. It seems fitting that, as we end this liturgical year we recognize that Christ’s enthronement is the omega point toward which all time has been moving². The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all time.

During His time on earth, Jesus himself refused to be identified as a king. Yet, when pressed by Pilate, Jesus acknowledges His royalty and insists his rule was not like that of other kings. Through His Kingship, Jesus offers Himself as a spotless sacrifice to bring us peace and to accomplish the mysteries of human redemption. His is a Kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love and peace. He sits as King forever and for all time and His Kingdom will have no end.

But, if He is a king, why would he leave His kingdom which, according to Him, is not of this world, to live among people who would ridicule, mock, deride, and ultimately kill Him? The answer is; He left His Kingdom out of love. His love for us is so immense it is immeasurable.

And what is amazing is that each one of us, by our baptism, shares in the kingship of Christ. In His incarnation Jesus exchanges the royal robes of His divinity for the dirty rags of our humanity. And, in our Baptism, we exchange the dirty rags of our humanity with the royal robes of His divinity³.

And this begs the question; how is Jesus’ Kingship different than that of any other king who ever lived or who will ever live?

When we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord, not of a particular country, not of a particular geographic area, but of the entire universe. His Kingship is of cosmic dimensions for The Lord, almighty and eternal God has anointed Him, His Only Begotten Son, as eternal Priest and King of all creation.  And it is through Him offering Himself on the altar of the cross that the human race is reconciled to God; that the whole creation is set free from the power of death and brought to everlasting life in Christ Jesus.

Each of us does well to reflect upon today’s Sacred Gospel reading as it holds out a challenge to us;

Does Christ remain as supreme King in our hearts, minds, and in our actions?

Do we acknowledge Him as being One with the Father and the Holy Ghost?

Do we adore Him as our Sovereign Lord?

These questions assist us to examine Jesus as Christ, the King; not simply as a king over a particular geographic area of this world for he is much more than that. He is King over all kings; He is the King of the Universe to be loved and adored for all time.   

And just as a mirror reflects, we too should reflect His love in ultimate adoration and praise for Christ the King became one of us and died for us. So, here’s the big question; What are we going to do for Him in return?

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever.  Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes.  Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God,
“the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.