Jesus Christ, Our King and Lord

Jesus is our King and Lord!  How fitting it is that at the end of the Liturgical Year, the Church celebrates this beautiful truth that we hold deep in our hearts.  We must reflect on this truth and ask ourselves, “Is Jesus really King in my life?”  As Catholics, we know that God is to be the center of everything we say and do.  We know that our love for Jesus must surpass all other love. However, does Jesus have the first place in our lives?  Is Jesus really the King of our hearts?

We read in the Gospels how Jesus revealed to us the Kingdom of Heaven, referring to it as His Father’s House.  Jesus shares with us these consoling words, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:3).  God has a place for you in His kingdom.  In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no more pain, or sadness or fear.  In the Kingdom of Heaven there is only joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, humility and above all love.  The Catechism reminds us, “Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness” (CCC 1024).

In Jesus’ kingship, we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that “Jesus Christ is Lord: he possesses all power in heaven and on earth” (CCC 668).  This is important because it shows that there is no other authority that is greater than Jesus’ authority.  But this should not make us afraid, rather we should rejoice because Jesus’ authority is just and merciful.  We are also told in the Catechism that Christ dwells on earth in His Church and that Christ exercises an authority over the Church by virtue of the Holy Spirit.  We read, “The kingdom of Christ [is] already present in mystery on earth, the seed and the beginning of the kingdom.”  (CCC 669).  We know that the Mass is surely the closest to heaven that we get on this earth.  St. Thomas Aquinas sums it up beautifully, “The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; it signifies Love, it produces love.  The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.”  Jesus comes to us Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist.  Jesus, the King of the whole universe pours Himself out for love us all.

So, what does it mean for us to call Jesus our King?  It means that he reigns over us and that all our hope is in Jesus.  Remember what the good thief said to Jesus on the Cross, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus responded, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 35-43).  Through the grace of God, there is hope for all of us to reach the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus wants us there so desperately that he can’t bear the thought of us not being there with Him.  So, let’s chase away our pride and chase away our attachments to the vanities of this world and rejoice in Jesus as our King so that at the end of our lives we can run into the arms of our Savior and Lord and King.