Kingship

Today I am in Paris, having just visited the Cathedral of Saint-Denis just north of Paris. In that Cathedral is located the French Royal Necropolis. Surrounded by over 140 tombs of French Nobility, 40 of which are Kings, including King St. Louis IX, with their grand but sober funerary monuments, the immense temporal power that was wielded by those now laid to rest is evident, but even in death they seem to recognize that their power was finite and ultimately subservient to that of Christ’s, as on many monuments is incorporated effigies in prayerful posture often on their knees in the direction of an altar.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Pope Benedict XVI said in an address on Christ the King in 2009:

“The title 'King', designating Jesus, is very important in the Gospels and makes possible a complete interpretation of the figure of Jesus and of his mission of salvation. In this regard, a progression can be noted: it starts with the expression "King of Israel" and extends to that of universal King, Lord of the cosmos and of history, thus exceeding by far the expectations of the Jewish people. It is yet again the mystery of Jesus Christ's death and Resurrection that lies at the heart of this process of the revelation of his kingship. When Jesus is hung on the Cross, the priests, scribes and elders mock him saying: "He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him" (Mt 27: 42). It is in the very offering of himself [on the cross] in the sacrifice of expiation that Jesus becomes King of the universe, as he himself was to declare when he appeared to the Apostles after the Resurrection: "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt 28: 18).

But in what does this "power" of Jesus Christ the King consist? It is not the power of the kings or the great people of this world; it is the divine power to give eternal life, to liberate from evil, to defeat the dominion of death. It is the power of Love that can draw good from evil, that can melt a hardened heart, bring peace amid the harshest conflict, and kindle hope in the thickest darkness…

Dear brothers and sisters, when the Angel Gabriel brought the announcement to Mary, he predicted that her Son would inherit the throne of David and reign forever (cf. Lk 1:32-33). And even before she gave him to the world, the Blessed Virgin believed. Thus, she must certainly have wondered what new kind of kingship Jesus would be; she came to understand by listening to his words, and especially by closely participating in the mystery of his death on the Cross and in his Resurrection. Let us ask Mary to help us, too, to follow Jesus, our King, as she did, and to bear witness to him with our entire existence.”