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.
