Sunday, November 20, 2022

 Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 

(II Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43)

A widow's son died suddenly. The mother was left heartbroken. She not only felt abandoned by God; she also was worried about the soul of the deceased. Although he was kind and respectful of everyone, the man did not regularly attend mass. Thinking of Christ as a king, we could support people like this grieving woman.

A king or queen has the prerogative to grant pardons to criminals. They can order a prisoner to be released, no matter what his or her offense is. Although Pilate was not a king but a representative of the emperor, he took advantage of the prerogative. He released Barabbas from prison while condemning Jesus to death. In today's gospel, Jesus himself, king of the universe, uses it to commute the penalty of the criminal who asks him for consideration. For contritely acknowledging his offense, Jesus promises his eternal life.

The second reading from the Letter to the Colossians assures us that Jesus has the privilege of pardons. Because he is the Son of God the Father, the firstborn of all creation, and the foundation of all things, Christ has received "all fullness." This "fulness" includes the ability to forgive the guilty where he deems appropriate. With this power, Christ can commute the penalty of our sins, however great.

We cannot say that everyone will be admitted into the glory of eternal life. Jesus warns us in the gospel to enter through the narrow gate. That is, we are to pray, do penance, and perform good deeds regularly. He adds that “many will try to enter and will not be able to”. That is, many pretend to live righteously, but they will not achieve eternal life. Jesus has left us the sacraments to keep on the right path and put us back there when we leave it. We should not presume that his mercy is as sure as the Christmas bonus.

However, the mercy of Jesus Christ is greater than our calculations. He knows if we are fully guilty of our sins. It may be that our responsibility is limited when we sin because of cultural conditions or personal experiences. Also, he listens to our last cries. It is possible that, with an act of contrition at the final moment, he will forgive our worst sins. It would be an act completely in keeping with his mission. As he said on the way to his martyrdom in Jerusalem, he came "to save what was lost."

When she died recently, Queen Elizabeth of England received praise from around the world. She was a disciplined and believing person, truly worthy of admiration. Her subjects loved her for the dignity she always displayed and her concern for the welfare of the nations in the Commonwealth. In Christ we have a monarch with these qualities and more. After conquering sin and death, he has reigned to dispense grace to us. He will always be for us the king of kings: just, compassionate, and benevolent.

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