The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, November 24, 2024

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus has to repeatedly clarify what kind of savior, messiah, and king He is, because the Jews were looking for someone to free them from Roman occupation. Even Jesus’ own Apostles kept thinking Jesus was going to get political. For example, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, right before He ascends to Heaven, the Apostles ask: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?” So, prior to them receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, it wasn’t entirely clear to the apostles who Jesus was.


But today’s readings make it clear: Jesus is no earthly king; He doesn’t act like one; He doesn’t judge like one; and He’s willing to suffer terribly on behalf of his servants, unlike most earthly kings.


…In the second reading, we hear the Apostle John write about Jesus: “Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him.”


And I want to focus on the fact that all the peoples, us, will lament when we see Him.


What kind of lamenting will be happening? Are the people who see Jesus coming on the clouds at His second coming lamenting in view of their impending condemnation, or is it a repentant lamentation for what they had done to him.” It depends what kind of king Jesus is.


…As scary sounding as the Book of Revelation can be, it’s actually meant to offer a lot of comfort.


…Scripture passages often refer to, echo, and build from other scripture passages, and the scripture passage that particular one echos is from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah where it reads: “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of mercy and supplication, so that when they look on him whom they have thrust through, they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and they will grieve for him as one grieves over a firstborn.” 


So, the Book of Revelation is saying “all people will see the pierced but triumphant Christ and will ‘lament’ not for themselves but ‘for him,’ Jesus. They will feel [contrition] for the wounds they inflicted on him.”


…So, what kind of king does that make Jesus? Is He one that wants us to have an exaggerated fear of him; to assume we are headed towards doom? Or, is He a king who wants us to appreciate what He’s done for us; to appreciate how good He is; how merciful He is?


Click here to view Scripture readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112424.cfm

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