Breaking Open the Word

By James Cavanagh

Nov. 22: Solemnity of Christ the King

Scripture readings:

• Daniel 7:13-14
• Psalm 93:1-5
• Revelation 1:5-8
• John 18:33-37

 Overview: The book of Daniel is set in the time of the Babylonian exile (605-538 B.C.). It consists of six stories and four visions whose purpose is to show how beleaguered Jews were able to maintain their religious integrity despite oppression and persecution. This week’s first reading comes from a vision in which Daniel sees the passing of four kingdoms before the advent of the kingdom of God.  The messianic king (“Son of Man”), sent from the Ancient of Days (God), stands over and above the ruler of the world. Unlike the kingdoms of the world, which eventually pass away, God’s “dominion is an everlasting dominion.” The book of Revelation has many similarities to Daniel, and was written for much the same reason: to encourage Christians who were suffering persecution by the Roman government. It’s worth noting that the revelations occur while John was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”—suggesting that his visions took place within the context of the liturgy. The entire people of God share in Christ’s royal office having been made “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father” thus strengthening them to stand up against Caesar, as Christ stood against Pilate.   In our Gospel, Pilate questions him about his identity: “Are you the king of the Jews?” to which Jesus replies that he is a king, but his kingdom is not of this world. The “world” here means human society organized around “principalities and powers” hostile to God, which Pilate represents. The chief characteristic of Christ’s kingship is his witness to the truth. While Pilate presumes to judge Christ, it is the truth that judges Pilate—and all kingdoms of this world.

Key verse: “Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5).

“Catechism of the Catholic Church”: “The People of God shares in the royal office of Christ. He exercises his kingship by drawing all men to himself through his death and Resurrection. The People of God fulfills its royal dignity by a life in keeping with its vocation to serve with Christ” (No. 786).

Pope Benedict XVI: “What is the ‘truth’ that Christ came into the world to witness to? The whole of his life reveals that God is love: so this is the truth to which he witnessed to the full with the sacrifice of his own life on Calvary” (Angelus, Nov. 26, 2006).

Life application: At every Mass, but especially this Sunday, Christ is praised and exalted as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” When the faithful joined St. John “on the Lord’s Day” they were engaged in a revolutionary act that undermined Caesar’s claim to absolute supremacy. Every act of worship is, in a very real sense, a political act because it’s there we express our ultimate allegiance not to Caesar, but to Christ the King.