Dear Believers in the Christ,

Today is the last Sunday of our liturgical year. The title of today, “The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” seems imposing if not completely overwhelming. For most people in our society to use the name king or anything similar seems a bit much. Yet, for the last Sunday of our year, this title of Christ Jesus is just the beginning. This King will lead us into a new land well beyond the grave.

I love the notion of Christ the King. I like it because it names the rhythm of our year, that in the end everything is going to be all right. Imagine, that Jesus is the King of not only our personal piety, but in the end, the one who will shepherd all people to his side.

He becomes the King of not only wayward folks but of all the issues in life that seem unredeemable. He is King over all people, including those drugged out by cocaine and heroin. He is shepherd and King to all people who on this side of the grave cannot help themselves or who cannot afford housing. He is the dominant one over those with throat cancer who will finally sing his praise. He is the one who welcomes everyone around the table in the Kingdom, especially those who have never felt welcomed at their family table. Jesus is the kind-one who will bring all who have been abused into new and vital healing relationships. He will bring home the ones who fret and worry, those who are too stubborn to believe on earth and those who cannot wait to get out of prison. Jesus the King is the servant for all people.

I am excited again to read in the Mass texts from Revelation, “Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the people of the earth will lament him. Amen.” I am refreshed that those who come to our Food Pantry will be full of love and food with his help and our work. I know that those who live in nursing homes will be able to get out of bed and look at the clouds and leap for joy at his coming. I understand with my full heart that our lost relatives will get a call from him on the last day and invite us all into reconciliation.

I know this title of Jesus seems rather imposing and certainly seems “churchy.” Yet if we examine closely the liturgical year and how we praise God, how we worship and how the community is formed by the structure and grace of the year, our hearts should skip a beat and we should dance in Old Colorado City at the thought of him coming in the high-top clouds.

The amazing thing is that as soon as we celebrate The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe this week, we will start the story all over again at the beginning of Advent. Then we shall sing at the top of our lungs that the child we wait for at Christmas will eventually become King over everything that is broken in our human hearts. The One we worship is amazing, the great King.

Peace to you,

Fr. Ron