by Fr. Tommy Lane
Who or what comes first in your life? The meaning of our celebration of Jesus Christ as King today is that we place Jesus first in our lives at all times. On this last Sunday of this liturgical year before we begin Advent next Sunday we celebrate publicly that Jesus is first in our lives. We could say it is really a celebration of the first commandment, “I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.”
In our Gospel Jesus gives us a key to putting him first. He says, “…all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” So putting Jesus first means listening to his voice of truth and then living by his truth. In everything we think and do and say let us listen to the voice of Jesus. We begin making Jesus King of our lives by making him King of our minds. Listen to the voice of Jesus by turning off the voice of Satan on the TV and spending time in silence. Paul wrote in 2 Cor 10:5, “we demolish every presumptuous notion against the knowledge of God, and we bring every thought into captivity or obedience to Christ.” That describes very well what it means to say that Jesus is King of our lives, “we demolish every presumptuous notion against the knowledge of God, and we bring every thought into captivity or obedience to Christ.” So instead of hatred we show love. We bring every thought that is not Christian into captivity and obedience to Christ by listening to his voice of truth. Instead of filling your mind with the voice of Satan on TV fill your mind with the voice of Jesus.
When we fill our minds with the voice of Jesus instead of the voice of Satan it will have an effect in our lives. When people visit your house they will see whose voice you are listening to. Sacred pictures on the walls of our homes remind us to listen to the voice of Jesus. Holy Water fonts by our doors as we go out remind us to listen to the voice of Jesus. Listen to the voice of Jesus by praying together as a family every evening. Above all we listen to the voice of Jesus by celebrating the Sunday Eucharist together here. In all these ways that we listen to the voice of Jesus we make him King of our lives.
There is a difference between the laws of the land and the laws of God. Even if the State legalises something it does not mean that it is in accordance with the will of God. A State may be forced to make something immoral legal because of pressure from certain groups or court rulings. Even when the State gives us the freedom to do something we still need to ask ourselves “Is this the right thing to do?” When laws concerning public morality are introduced we need to ask did the lawmakers listen to the voice of Jesus or to some other voice? Jesus says, “…all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” Laws permitting abortion, euthanasia, divorce, IVF, embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriages, artificial contraception and the morning after pill are laws not listening to the voice of Jesus. Embryonic stem cell research is often called destructive stem cell research because taking the stem cells from the embryo kills the embryo. Concerning IVF the Irish bishops wrote in 2000,
“IVF, as normally practiced, is
inconsistent with respect for the life and bodily integrity of the embryo. In many cases it is inconsistent with
respect for the family and the identity of the origin of the child.”
(Assisted Human Reproduction: Facts and Ethical Issues page 30)
Many people are not aware that when a test-tube baby is produced about a dozen spare embryos are also produced and stored indefinitely. Just because a State says I can do something does not mean that it is right to do it. Jesus says, “…all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” Today we celebrate Jesus as King to show that in all that we think, do and say we want to listen to the voice of Jesus.
If we had to vote on an issue of public morality and your favourite political party said to vote one way and the teaching of the Church said faith in Christ demands that we vote in a different way, how would you vote? According to your favourite political party or according to the teaching of the Church? Jesus says, “…all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.” Today we celebrate Jesus as King to show that in all that we think, do and say we want to listen to the voice of Jesus.
Our celebration today is a joyful celebration because Jesus is not like kings of earthly kingdoms who may be remote from their people. Jesus is close to us, he walks by our side, he lifts us up when we need help, he gave his life for us.
I conclude with an excerpt from a beautiful hymn in Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:9-11,
“God has highly exalted him
[Jesus],
and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
This homily was delivered when I was engaged in parish ministry in Ireland before joining the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
More related material for the Thirty-Fourth Sunday Year B - Christ the King
Good Citizens of Our Country but God’s Servants First - Jesus is Our King
Related Homilies: Jesus is a Powerless King
Commentary: Jesus as King in Mark