What is your image of a king? Among other things, you probably think of power and splendor when you think of royalty. The first-century Jews had some very specific expectations concerning the messiah, the anointed king, about whom the prophets spoke. And so when some gazed upon Jesus hanging on the cross, they laughed at the idea that this could be the longed-for messiah.

Jesus was mocked by his fellow Jews, the thief who was crucified with him, and the Roman soldiers as well. His apparent weakness and disgrace on the cross were the very antithesis of the worldly idea of a king. But for Luke and the other early Christians, this crucifixion scene is the perfect image of Christ as King: The cross is the throne from which Jesus rules as the King of Love. His death is his loving gift to us.

From the cross Christ invites us to share in his reign. We participate in his kingship by sacrificing ourselves in love—by caring for the weak and the sick, by helping those in need, by sharing our time and our very selves with those around us. In the end, love itself proves to be stronger than even death. In the end, Love itself reigns forever.

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It’s not surprising that the Church gives us this reading about King David on this solemnity of Christ the King. Jesus is the Son of David as well as the Son of God and the inheritor of the throne of that illustrious King of Israel.

David became king of Judah at age thirty, the age at which Jesus’ public ministry began. He reigned as king of Israel for thirty-three years, the age at which Jesus died and also the length of his reign as messiah. One other interesting parallel between David and Jesus is that Jesus is referred to frequently as the Bridegroom in the New Testament. In this reading, before David is anointed (made “messiah”) and covenanted to Israel, those present say, “Here we are, your bone and your flesh.” There’s a clear resonance between these words and the words of Adam when he beholds his bride, Eve, in Genesis 2:23, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones/ and flesh of my flesh.” In becoming king of Israel, David likewise weds Israel in a symbolic marital covenant. All of this points to the eventual marriage between Christ the King and the new Israel, his bride, the Church.

 

St. Paul gives us a beautiful description of Christ’s kingship and how we’ve been made heirs of the kingdom which he inaugurated through redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. His kingship allows us to not only be priests and prophets, but also kings, by virtue of our anointing in Baptism. In the Christological canticle that finishes this reading, we see a very clear profession of the apostolic faith in Christ’s preexistence as the eternal Word through whom everything was made.

We need only read the full context of St. Paul’s canticle to recognize that he teaches the divinity of Christ, who is creator not creature. It’s only as the divine Son that Jesus can be “firstborn” of the divine Father. As man, he’s firstborn of the dead by his resurrection. Christ came as man, St. Paul tells us, “that in all things he himself might be preeminent.” So Jesus’ kingship is the fruit of his divinity but is also exercised in his humanity. He’s the divine king of all creation and the Davidic king of the New Israel into which the Father wills that all of creation be drawn.

 

This is an odd king who hangs in public disgrace on a cross to receive the jeers and derision of crowds and criminals. The Romans hung a sign above his head to that effect, intended as cruel irony, but which speaks the honest truth. They meant to say to the Jews, “You’re slaves and so this one, dying the death of a slave, is a fitting king for you.” They didn’t realize that we’re all slaves to sin and that only the death of this innocent king of slaves could free us.

The centurion at the foot of the cross recognized Christ’s innocence, but it took a convicted criminal to piece the heart of the mystery of Christ’s odd kingship, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” There was never a more profound act of faith than that. Imagine the depth of faith needed to see in the man mocked, beaten, and dying as one who would rule as king. Yet this thief, and innumerable sinners since, has received the grace to see in this one dying the death of a slave as their Lord and king. Sinners often understand it best.

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Mediation

Christ is enthroned on the cross as the king of love. We have seen how the Scripture readings for this week describe Jesus as the messiah, the king of Israel, and king over all.  The Jews and Romans both mocked Jesus for expressing his kingship through sacrificial love. Have you experienced mocking for following Jesus? How can we respond to this attitude of the world?

Imagine that, like the good thief, you enter into paradise and see Christ sitting on his throne in heaven. What does he look like? What are the surroundings like? How do you feel as you approach? What do you say to him? Now Christ is stepping down from his throne to greet you. What does he say to you? What do you feel as he approaches you? Ask him how you can more fully acknowledge him as king in your life and participate in his reign of love.

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Opening the Word offers prayers and insights for the Sunday Scriptural lessons. Watch the video presentation that accompanies this reflection FREE at  Formed.org.