Chapter Chaplain's Homily Reflection - JESUS, THE SAVING KING

On this final Sunday of the liturgical year, the universal Church celebrates the kingship of Jesus Christ. As the King, Jesus is the revelation of God's kingship. Israel had no king but God until Saul came to the scene as their first human King. Even then, the kings of Israel were regarded as God's visible representatives and given the divine title of a shepherd. The first reading confirms the anointing of David as King of all the unified tribes of Israel.
However, the moment kingship came into men's hands, the corruption of power became the norm. When the Jews discovered through experience that their desire for a human king was not met, the only option left was to keep longing for the coming of the Messiah, who would bring God's reign.
The Jews understood that the Messiah would come as a king to establish God's reign for them. They wanted a king to free them from tyranny and foreign domination. Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messiah when he began his ministry. Little did they understand the kind of kingship Jesus would be. They were disappointed when Jesus did not take up arms against their enemies.
But Jesus came to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable kingdom rather than to conquer perishable lands, seas, and thrones. Misunderstood, they arrested and presented Jesus to Pilate as the self-proclaimed King of the Jews. Today's Gospel presents how Jesus was tortured and died a criminal's death on the cross.
However, it is on this cross that Luke presents Jesus as the King who gives up his life to save humanity condemned to die. Here, on the cross, he does not save himself but saves others. He does not condemn the repentant thief but welcomes him into paradise.
In the second reading, Paul proclaims two predominant themes that affirm this: the kingship of Jesus Christ over all creation and the reconciliation of all things with God through his death on the cross. He exchanged a throne of glory for a cross of shame to restore us from slavery to sin to glory with God as his adopted sons and daughters. No wonder the Book of Revelation calls him the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).
Though in the crucified Jesus, all visible glory is stripped, and his divinity is disfigured, faith recognizes in him the presence of divine power and kingship. Although he did not have a fortress, army, or economy like the kings of this earth, he had followers of every age.
Today, the Church calls us to respond to the kingship of Jesus by first accepting him as Lord and King, and to enter a kingdom where righteousness, peace, truth, and love dwell. The greatest way to achieve this is by allowing him to reign in our lives through obedience to the commandments and selfless service in imitation of Jesus.
Secondly, we are to respond by embracing faithful discipleship. This means imitating his humility, serving others with compassion, and trusting his presence in suffering. We resist evil not with violence, but with the armor of truth, living with integrity even when injustice prevails. Our response must be marked by repentance, moral renewal, and spiritual readiness—bearing witness to God's justice, mercy, and love in a world torn apart by brokenness. In short, we follow the King who reigns from the cross by living lives of courageous fidelity.
Let us, therefore, go home today, and as the King of the universe gave up his life to serve the needs of humanity, we too may give up our selfish sense of entitlement and settlement and serve with love even when it hurts.

Chaplain

Arrowhead Desert Valley Chapter