Father Rick Bolte's Homily

C: Solemnity of Christ the King                                    2007-11-25

Today is the Feast of Christ the King.  It is the last Sunday of the church year (next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent) and it points to what we are all about as Christians.  We might expect a Gospel reading of Jesus’ at the final judgment or Jesus glorified in the Transfiguration.  But instead we have a story of Jesus crucified.  Do we really want to follow in his footsteps?

In Luke’s Gospel, we don’t hear of any supportive individuals at the cross.  On the way to his crucifixion, Jesus meets some women who are mourning.  He warns them to take care for their future as things will be difficult.  When Jesus is being nailed to the cross, he prays for the forgiveness of his tormenters.  And in today’s reading Jesus promises paradise to the repentant thief.  Something Luke wants to emphasize about Jesus is that no matter what the pain or concerns he may have, he always has room in his heart to care about others.

That doesn’t sound so spectacular until we look at our everyday life.  In our lives we are busy.  Even when we aren’t busy doing something at the moment, our minds are off thinking about something we will be doing soon.  As parents we struggle to be present to our children when we are relaxing from work, reading the paper, fixing dinner, watching TV, etc.  We often talk to others or call because of what we want to ask or say more than to really listen.  I think we all know what a gift it is when someone wants to really listen to us.  Not just to hear our words and respond, but really wants to be attentive to what’s in our hearts!  That takes effort.  That shows that there is room for us in the other person’s heart.  It says we are more important to them than all the other things they may have on their mind.

The amazing thing is that Jesus, even when he is in intense pain, facing his death, and being jeered by numerous people; he has room in his heart to be attentive to what’s in the hearts of those around him.  He feels for the women who are mourning, he cares about those who nail him to the cross, and he reaches out to the thief dying on a cross next to his.  To follow Jesus is to allow this kind of love to dominate our lives.  We are called to offer all our cares about things that don’t ultimately matter on the cross of God’s love.

To celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we have to remember that in God’s kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves the rest.  Luke points out that to serve other, we need to have room in our hearts regardless of our trials and tribulations and daily concerns.  We are invited to be part of God’s kingdom remembering that this kingdom turns the values of a limited world upside-down.  Do we want to be part of the kingdom that led Jesus and leads us on the way of the cross?