Nov 24, 2019
Post date: Nov 26, 2019 1:57:48 PM
November 24, 2019- Feast of Christ the King Homily by Fr. Karl Schray
Endings are very important. This Sunday is the climax of the Liturgical Year and so we adore Jesus as Christ our King.
52 Sundays ago, we started the Church year with the 4 Sundays of Advent preparing for Christ’s coming at Christmas which was of course preceded by the Annunciation/Incarnation 9 months earlier.
And then we remembered his presentation in the temple and when he stayed behind as a 12-year-old speaking with the religious leaders much to the worry of his parents who searched for him.
He went back to Nazareth obedient to his parents and grew in age and grace and wisdom before God and people.
He was known as a carpenter following in the footsteps of St. Joseph.
We saw him baptized by his cousin John.
We heard his mother’s intercession for the bridal couple at Cana when she said to the waiters— ‘Do whatever my son tells you.’
His stories and teachings, every deed, inspired his disciples
and us to believe and to imitate him.
He led us on a 40-day retreat of Lent to prepare for his holiest week.
He showed us we could not be spectators at our own salvation.
He taught us how to pray. He wants us to call his Father, our Father too.
His passion, sacrificial death and resurrection restores us to life. By grace and faith, we are saved.
Our faith must be lived just as Jesus lived in love and obedience to the will of His Father. He ascended into heaven and sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Empowered by Jesus’ Sacraments and Sacred Scriptures we continued our faith journey through the past summer and fall. Our lives are all headed to be with Jesus, our King in his Father’s Kingdom.
Jesus invites us, asks us, urges us, everyday to make him the King and Lord of our lives, of our hearts.
Jesus is indeed a King but an unusual kind of King.
He came not to conquer but to convert, not to dominate but to liberate.
Not to rule but to serve. He died as a criminal yet reigned from the cross.
He responded to the worst with what was best in him. Why didn’t he lash out at his executioners?
His is the power of power not exercised.
Hanging on two crosses beside him are two criminals, thieves.
How differently they responded to their fellow sufferer. The good thief, called by pious tradition, St. Dismas, did not revile the crucified Christ.
He even defended Jesus’ innocence and prays this powerful, poignant prayer—Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
These words should be our words in prayer, as we complete this year of grace and prepare to begin another.
We ask you Jesus to remember us when you come into your
Kingdom of Life and Light, your Kingdom of Peace and Joy,
your Kingdom of Love and Glory where you live and reign forever.
Even as we pray these words, we realize just how impossible
it would be for Jesus not to remember us. He is our King, our Shepherd, our Leader, the Head of his Body, the Church, our Savior,
our Lord and our God. He could no more forget us than
he could forget the cross on which he hung. His suffering, his dying
and rising from the dead are all for us and for all of us.
To reassure us that He will always remember us and never forget us,
Jesus gives us his final words of this year of grace. He says, “Amen, I say to you, this day you will be with me in Paradise.”
Not only will Jesus remember us and never forget us, but he will not leave us. Take him—He is your King. Jesus Remember me when you come into your kingdom…This day you will be with me in Paradise.