Feast of Christ the King:
Our King modeled obedience

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Tom Lyons

This Sunday, the church celebrates Christ the King, the final feast of the Christian calendar.

One would think, then, that we would be asked to reflect on a reading that heavily emphasizes Christ's royalty, His power. Certainly the first two readings preface such a reading. But instead, we see Jesus dying on the cross in today's Gospel.

I think it's interesting how Jesus promised paradise to the criminal. We sometimes have an image of saints as being those who spend a lifetime seeking God, the ultra-holy, etc.

Yet, here is a criminal receiving Jesus' favor. And why? He acknowledged the kingship of Jesus, the injustice of the Lord's death, and his own guilt.

Christ the King (Nov. 21, 2004) 2 Sm 5:1-3 Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Col 1:12-20 Lk 23:35-43

What can we learn from the second criminal? On a shallow level, probably nothing. The criminal apparently didn't live a model life. We also have no evidence that he was particularly interested in living for God before his date with destiny.

But, if we look a bit deeper, we see that he did boldly counter the complaining first criminal. Dare we be so bold with how Jesus has worked in our own lives? At least for one moment in the second criminal's life, Jesus came first.

We have a gift that the criminal didn't - the gift of time. The criminal knew his time on earth was just about up; he was suffering the same fate as Jesus on a cross that would end his life.

We, on the other hand, have many moments to put Christ first in our lives. We can proclaim the kingship of Jesus for every remaining moment.

What does it mean to put Christ first? It means to direct ourselves toward Him, with all our mind, heart, and will. God is calling us to deeper and deeper conversion of our lives to be in communion with His will.

It took the criminal his entire life to respond. We shouldn't wait so long.

Perhaps it's not too difficult to understand why we see Christ dying on the cross on Christ the King Sunday. First, we embrace the example of the criminal, who humbled himself to embrace Christ.

Second, though, we learn from Christ's obedience. Jesus, our King, could have used His divine power to remove Himself from the cross. Then, though, where would we be, in need of this sacrifice? Jesus remained obedient to the Father's will. This too is our call.

	Reflection questions • What changes should we embrace in our lives after hearing God's voice? • What challenges or struggles are facing you to prevent your following Christ? • What are some concrete ways you sense the devil prowling around you?

God is calling us to know and to love Him. He desires an intimate relationship with us, and gives us the means to seek Him.

With a spirit of obedience and humility, let us respond. Perhaps we can direct ourselves to Him in prayer and the Scriptures. Perhaps a sincere sacramental life will bring us closer.

In sharing with a community of believers, we can see Christ in others. No matter the vehicle by which we seek God, He is calling us. Let us respond.

Tom Lyons is volunteering this year with St. Paul's Catholic Center as a dorm missionary. He and his wife, Athena, are expecting their first child in December.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

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