Today, the universal Church celebrates the triumph of our God who is King of kings and Lord of lords. It is appropriate that the end of one liturgical calendar remembers the kingship of Jesus, not just in Heaven but also here on earth.
Before we dive into the theologies behind the celebration, it is appropriate that we remember first how this liturgical year has gone. The Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples has been a successful liturgical year in the Holy Church. Through the efforts of our current Church Father, Pope Francis, the faithful has been inclined to dialogues on faith and morals, the introspection of what it is to be Catholic, and the development of profound respect not just for the indigenous but also to the minorities of the society – women, children, people of color, immigrants, and the urban poor.
The year 2020 is also a year of eye-opening catastrophe. Calamities, epidemics, and widespread corruption has taunted the faithful to rather believe in nothing than looking up to God for help. The crisis has left a lot of people cold-hearted and shameless in doing what is against the teachings of the Church. Many have resolved to drug use and addiction as an escape to their miseries than resolving oneself to prayer for guidance and mental peace.
However, as much as we are all struggling now with the tragedies around us, there is a more delirious problem that we forgot yet needed addressing – our lack of devotion during the pandemic. We have not just failed to pray. We have also failed as Christians to see the Church as a way of getting through this tough time. We think that the Holy Church, the devotions, the practices, the magisteria, and other Catholic acts are distracting our strife to survival. Yet, we never realized that, through Jesus, we can face it. As members of the Body, the Church, we cannot function properly without her Head, which is Christ our Lord and King.
Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Whoever remains in the Lord bears fruit in plenty; for cutting off from Him can make you do nothing.
(John 15:5)
For one to be fruitful in his endeavor to survive this trying time, he must remember his roots. This is the core tenet of Christianity – to be one with Christ. If we become one with Him, we will forever share His glory as King and Lord. Remain in Him and He will lead the way towards this dark path we all are traversing now. There is no selection in this principle. We are all bound towards one destination. The best way for us to get through any problems, any challenges, and any obstacles is to remain in God’s Love. He is King. He knows how to lead us better than ourselves.
My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus is King. There is no greater declaration of admiration to our Lord and Savior than honoring Him as the King of kings and Lord of Lords. More than that, He is the King of our lives. He is the ruler of our destinies. He is the protector of our Faith, the keeper of our Hope, and the Influencer of our Love for Him and His beloved children. The Lord is King. There is nothing far greater to shout than being one with the crowd who sings Hosanna in the Highest. It is the epitome of our Christianity. All we ever wanted to do is to be one with the saints and angels in Heaven shouting, cheering, chanting songs of praise and adoration to the One who sits at the right hand of God Almighty.
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