This week, we are reflecting on the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, known as the Feast of Christ the King. The introduction to the feast in the missal is as follows: “We celebrate Christ our anointed King who overcame suffering and death and so brought us out of darkness into his kingdom of light.”
The scripture text
above is taken from the first reading of yesterday’s feast. The anointing of David as king is recalled because he was seen as a type, a representation of the future messianic king. Nathan, the prophet, promised David that a descendant of his would come “who would establish his throne forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16). Isaiah says that “he will give it lasting foundations of justice and right.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
We see the biblical image of a king
in the scripture quote, which David fulfilled: he will come from them, he will be the one God selects, he will have competence, he will unite them and shepherd them, and he will be wanted by them. Although David is seen as the greatest king of Israel, he is a poor shadow of Christ the King! David ruled over Israel for 40 years; Christ rules over all of creation for eternity. David was a man who made mistakes; Jesus was the God-man who was without sin. When David died, his kingdom decayed;
Christ’s death is the beginning of an everlasting reign.
Christ, the King, is a king so different from our image of a king of those and these days. Christ is a king who unites, who shepherds, who loves. A king of the beatitudes, who experienced and understands suffering. A king of justice and forgiveness, who brings light into the darkness. A king we can depend on completely.
What do I need in a king/shepherd/leader? What is a kingdom of light?
Is unity a quality that speaks to me? Spend time thinking about unity, oneness.
