“Above Him, there was an inscription that read: ‘This is the King of the Jews.'”

–Gospel of Luke, chapter 23:38

Was Christ truly a king? Not in the earthly sense, certainly. He rejected the attempt of his followers to make Him a king; He rejected all trappings of human power and dominance over others. But, He is a king in the deepest sense of the word: His message and his example speak to the kingliest part of our natures; that is, the part that compels us to live lives based on faith, hope and love.

We celebrate today the special kingdom that Jesus came to establish; a kingdom in which God’s Son comes to save us at any price; a kingdom that is not of this world for it resides within us. Those who jeered at the dying Jesus on the cross, did not understand this; they expected a kingdom of this world (Luke 23:35-43).

The type of kingship that Jesus demonstrates has no earthly match. This King is a shepherd for us and like the good shepherd, He does not push or herd the sheep from behind but walks ahead of them and leads them into freedom and security. This King seeks us out when we’re helpless; rescues us when we’re trapped; forgives us when we sin; and raises us up to new life.

Jesus does not come in judgment or with punishment and condemnation but with sympathy and reconciliation. He comes to lift up sinners. He wills not the loss of any of the flock, but only that each member recognize Him. He says that He is to be recognized by all those in need. Judgment in His kingdom will be levied according to whether we have recognized Him in our neighbors in need, by feeding, clothing, housing, refreshing and consoling them. Thus He insists: “I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Strive to choose to do good and to do it in the concrete as Jesus tells us. The Gospel reminds us that it is the little things that count: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, healing and visiting the sick, giving shelter to the homeless (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25).

It is the little steps that we take in all these specific areas that build up the Kingdom of Christ which is a spiritual, moral and socially desirable kingdom.

So, put one foot in front of the other and commit yourself to helping others. You are not just trying to reserve a place for yourself in the new Kingdom of Christ; you are leading others to it as well. You are following the lead of Christ, the King.

Fr. Hugh Duffy