Christ the King
November 21, 2021: A Reflection for the 34th Sunday in O.T., Christ the King, Year B
John 18:33b-37
My kingdom does not belong to this world. (Jn 18:36)
Jesus, you are a king unlike any king that has existed. You exercise your kingship differently than the earthly monarchs to which we have become so accustomed. Your authority is not fashioned on the patterns of this world: submission, control, domination. Your kingdom is within us, and your throne is our hearts, which is to say, your kingdom is love.
This love is the very ground of our being, the well-spring of your Presence at the heart of each creature. We do not have to earn it, nor work to achieve it. You might say, it is our birthright as a child of God. All creation shares in this birthright since you are love and all you create is an expression of it. How could we not BE love in our depths since we share in your life?
This is the Kingdom into which you have invited us to live, move and have our being. When you say, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” our hearts resonate with it. You call each of us to live from the depths of our being where you reign in love. When we share your love with one another, we bring your kingdom to the world.
Christ our King, help us to keep the door of our hearts open to you where you live and reign. Only WE can close the door to your kingdom and only we can open it. Let us live from your mercy, acceptance, and love. And may it be our joy to share it with one another. Thy Kingdom come, O humble King!