Long Live Our King
On Christ the King Sunday, we gather to profess a truth that echoes through the universe: Jesus Christ is King! Yet, as we reflect on this title, we might pause and ask, “Do we really need a king?” If yes, then "What kind of king is Jesus anyway?" When we think of kings, we often imagine crowns of gold, mighty armies, and huge empires. But the kingship of Christ, the King, turns these expectations upside down. How, then, can we encounter this Jesus and learn from Him?
The Kingship of Christ
St. Jerome, who translated the Latin Bible, the Vulgate, in the late fourth century, said, “Whoever does not know the Bible does not know Jesus Christ.” And so we learn from the sacred scripture that Jesus completely overturns all the earthly expectations of his kingship. Jesus is another kind of King whose power is love, whose law is truth and mercy, and whose throne is the cross. His kingdom is not upheld by force; it is a kingdom planted in the hearts of all who choose to follow Him. And His reign is eternal, stretching beyond time and space into the depths of eternity.
A King Who Sees with Compassion
One of the most remarkable truths about Christ is how He sees us. When He looks at the world, He doesn’t see it through the lens of judgment or condemnation. He sees it with compassion, with tenderness, with hope. Even in our brokenness, He sees our potential for holiness. Even in our sins, He sees the beauty of a soul yearning for redemption.
Take a moment to think about that.
Imagine the way Jesus sees you. He sees the struggles you hide, the pain you carry, the dreams you nurture, and the burdens you bear. He sees your mistakes, yes, but He also sees the deep longing in your heart to love and be loved. This is the gaze of the King we celebrate today—a King who loves us not because we are perfect but because we are His.
A Call to See with the Eyes of Christ
If we are to honor Christ as King, we must learn to see as He sees. It is not enough to admire His love from a distance. We are called to live it.
To see the world through His eyes is to recognize the face of God in every person we meet. It means to look at our neighbor not as a stranger, but as a brother or sister.
This is not easy. It requires us to let go of our judgments, to soften our hearts, and to open ourselves to the transformative power of grace. But it is precisely this vision that brings the kingdom of God to life in our midst.
Dear faithful followers of Christ Jesus,
This perspective is deeply connected to the lived truth of Jesus. HE is our King and HE is our Savior. Jesus affirms this royal truth when Pilate questioned him about his kingship: “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world: to testify to the truth."
This is not an abstract truth, but a reality that transforms, enriches, and fulfills our lives.
Building the Kingdom of God
What does it mean to live in the Kingdom of Christ?
It means living with purpose, rooted in love.
It means, as best as we can, to put aside selfishness and fear and chose to serve.
God’s kingdom is not built with destructive power and greed but with acts of kindness, humility, and sacrifice. It is built when we feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, and forgive those who wrong us. It is built when we speak words of encouragement, when we stand up for what is right, and when we choose love over hate. With this Christ-like truth in mind, it opens up unexpected and fulfilling spaces for life here and now.
Rejoicing in Our King
As we celebrate this great feast, let us rejoice in our King. Let us invite Him into our hearts and into every part of our lives. And let us commit ourselves to living as citizens of His kingdom, bringing His love, mercy, and peace into the world.
Let us pray for the grace to see as Christ sees, to love as He loves, and to serve as He serves. And let us remember that His kingdom is already among us, here and now, wherever love reigns.
Christ is King.
Long live the King—in our hearts, in our lives, and in our world.
Praised be Jesus Christ – now and forever. Amen.