Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Homily for November 25, 2007
Liturgical Year C - Cycle I
34th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Andrew Moyo
 Topic: Jesus Christ, The King of the Universe and of our hearts.
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Gospel :
Luke  23: 35-43
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."  Even the soldiers jeered at him.  As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."  Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."  The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
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Today we come to the end of our liturgical year. As usual, we contemplate the great image of Christ the King. In the Gospel, the regality of Jesus is shown by the words: This is the King of the Jews:  From the point of view of Jesus’ enemies, this was the justification of his condemnation.  However, from the point of view of the heavenly Father, this was a proclamation of his Lordship.
 
The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus Christ as their king. Jesus for them was a weak king: He wielded no political power, no wealth, no servants, no army, no palace.  They had him crucified and when the King of the world was hanging on the cross, they jeered and reviled him by saying, “Save yourself if you are the king!”

Only one recognizes the kingship of Jesus.  He recognizes his innocence and he calls him by name, “Jesus remember me, when you come to your kingdom:” Jesus manifests his kingship when he promises him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus demonstrates his real power. Jesus came to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable kingdom, rather than to conquer perishable lands.
 
As we come to the end of our liturgical year, as we stand at the foot of the cross, we need to reflect on our relationship with Jesus and ask, “Is Christ the King and Lord of my life?  Who rules in me, who determines the goals?  Christ or someone else?”  In the Gospel, we see that for the soldiers and the other thug, someone else determined their relationship with Christ.  They simply repeated what they heard from their religious leaders. The soldiers said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."  One of the criminals stated,  "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."  We see that their relationship with Jesus was very mechanical and determined or influenced by their prejudiced religious leaders.  It was a mere repetition of formulas or words from the religious leaders.  They failed to recognize Christ as King. 
 
We should try to guard against formalism.  Let me illustrate this with a short story.  A priest was celebrating mass.  He began the mass in the usual way: In the name of the Father and of the Son and the of the Holy Spirit.  As he was making the sign of the cross, he realized that the microphone was not working well. So he went on to say: “This microphone is not working well”: The people responded, “and also with you.”  They were so used to the order of the mass that they knew what the priest would say before he said it. So they just responded without listening. We are invited to guard against  such ritualism or formalism.  In prayer, at mass, we encounter the living God. Our acts of worship should be a personal and living encounter with this Living God.

We ask ourselves:
Is Christ the King and Lord of my life? Who establishes my priorities: Christ or something else?  If there clash between church and a football game, what do I choose? Christ or pleasure! Suppose I have visitors on a Sunday.  Do I remain with my visitors on a Sunday or do I take them to church?

According to St. Paul, there are two ways to live: either for ourselves or for the Lord (Romans 14:7-9).  This feast is an invitation for us to open the doors of our hearts in order to welcome Christ into our lives. It is an invitation to live for the Lord. It is an invitation to put Christ at the centre of our lives.  Christ, the King stands by the door knocking.  He waits for each one of us to open the door.  “Behold, I stand by the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice  and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him and he with me.”  (Rev 3,20)  Christ does not force himself into our lives. He waits patiently for each one of us to let him in and when we open the door, he makes us experience his, love, peace and blessings.

Let me end by quoting Pope Benedict XVI.
If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great.  Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.  When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life.

Open wide the doors to Christ the King and you will find true life.