Posted on noviembre 22, 2024 View all Gospel Reflection
Time’s Up!
All too often we get caught up in these things all around us and can lose sight of the true goal and purpose of our life. We are created in the image and likeness of God, to know him, to love him and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him forever in the next life. Towards this end, the Church focuses on the end times as we approach the end of the liturgical year which ends on the Solemnity of Christ the King (Nov. 24).
Our responsorial psalm points to this when it repeats “The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty.” And also in the Book of Daniel when it says that the Son of man is coming and will receive dominion, glory, and kingship and his kingship shall not be destroyed. While the Israelites would have seen this as a direct reference to restoring the kingship of the Davidic throne, in light of Revelation, we see that it more completely refers to Jesus Christ as the true king and the one who did descend from the lineage of David and restored the kingship not merely on earth but in all of creation.
In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola has an important meditation at the end of the first week. It is called the Meditation of the Two Standards or The Call of Christ the King. In this meditation, Ignatius presents us with a choice. A standard is another term for flag or allegiance. In this meditation, Ignatius presents two leaders calling for our attention.
First he presents the standard of Lucifer. Here while Ignatius presents him in a terrifying and horrible manner, really Lucifer seeks to attract followers by presenting things in an attractive and almost easy or care-free manner. «Win your battles, break no sweat!» might seem to be his slogan. Lucifer presents worldly glory, honors and recognition as that which will make you happy and fulfilled.
Then he presents Jesus Christ the King calling us to a place that is filled with light and clarity. But Jesus does not present the easy path. He warns us that we will have to endure poverty, be rejected by some, and grow in humility. But if we rise to this challenge the victory is assured by His power. He is the one who calls us to serve with true honor and dedication.
As we are faced with this choice in this meditation, we can also reflect on it today as we celebrate Christ the King. Jesus has conquered sin and death. He calls us to follow Him to heaven. He calls us to follow and rise to His standard. Do we dare to follow? Do we dare to succeed? As we end this liturgical year, let us make a New Year’s resolution to follow Christ our King so that He might lead us to true victory, joy and fulfillment in His heavenly kingdom.
¡Viva Cristo Rey!
