HOMILY FOR THE 34TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
HOMILY THEME: THE KINGSHIP OF CHRIST
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY:
(Mt. 25:31-46)
In the day’s Gospel, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the culmination of the Liturgical Year of the Church, Jesus is confronted by Pilate regarding His kingship. In the end, He revealed Himself as the one who will testify to the truth. He is the King of Truth. When Jesus was hanged on the cross, Pilate placed INRI on the top of His head. It stands for Isus Nazarenus Rex Iudareum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Maybe, for Pilate, Jesus was King of the Jews. But he was mistaken. Jesus was the King of the Universe, the King of Kings.
This should not be hard for us to believe. For us, Christians, this should be an obvious fact. Throughout this year, beginning with Advent, to Easter, and the rest of the year, Jesus had been depicted as a good prophet, priest and king. Jesus loved us, His flock, Jesus would always defend us, His people. Jesus will never forsake us, His beloved. Jesus is King.
The celebration is meant to challenge and awaken us. Jesus had done His part and continues to be King to us. But are we being good subjects? In fact, our King does not treat us as subjects. He regards us as His friends. He gave His life that we might have life. He is a different King. He is the King of Truth. Truth here does not mean what is really happening. Truth is Jesus Himself. Truth is everything He said and did.
Jesus, like a true King, fulfilled His mission. He saved all of us. He was willing to give His life for us like a true King. His acts need a response from us. We must also be true children of God. We have to live His words and strive to be worthy of His Kingdom which is a Kingdom of Truth.
