"My Kingship is not of this World"

 



Things of this world are temporary, not eternal.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Christ the King, Year B, November 24th, 2024

Texts: Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93:1-2,5; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37

Today we celebrate Christ as the King of the universe. In today’s gospel reading He tells us about His kingship thus: "My kingship is not of this world”. If His kingship is of this world, it will be within time and space; it will have begin and end and location. Many Kingdoms of the world had risen and fallen. They did not endure because in the world things pass away.

St. Paul says, “The present form of this world is passing away” (1Cor. 7:31). At another place, he says, “We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2Cor. 4:18). Things of this world are temporary, not eternal. 

The kingship of Christ endures

The kingship of Christ is not of this world and for this reason it endures; it does not pass away.  Hence, the prophecy of Daniel says, “And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

The kingship of Jesus Christ is not of the world because it is from eternity. His kingship is not bound by time and space; it has no time and location. This is clear in the prophecy of Daniel. Daniel emphasises that His kingship has no beginning and end by saying His kingship is from the Ancient of Days. He is king in heaven and on earth. 

He is above the universe

Jesus Christ is also the king of the universe because His kingship is not of this world. He is above the universe; He lives in the world but not of the world. Of course, He cannot be of the world because the world is created through Him and for Him. In the words of St. Paul: “In him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him” (Col. 1:6). The world belong to Him; the world is for Him, He is not for the world.

The fact that the kingship of Christ is not of this world confirms His words about us: “You are in the world but not of the world”. Being His subjects we are also not of the world. Then, we need to take seriously the words of St. Paul: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).

Christ has turned us to kings, bearing witness to the truth

He has made us kings to reign here on earth. In today’s second reading we read, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” Here on earth we are to live for His glory. We are to take to heart the words of St. Paul: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).

We continue here on earth the kingship of Jesus Christ, bearing witness to the truth. He emphasises, today, that His kingship is to bear witness to the truth. We read, “Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’  Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.’" Hence, bearing witness to the truth is our way to follow Him as His disciples. 

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness

Jesus Christ bore witness to the truth to the point of shedding His blood. In today’s second reading we read, “Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood”.

The message, today, is that the kingship of Christ cannot be of this world. We should seek it in this world. This calls us to look beyond the world for Christ. We are not of this world also as Christ kingship is not of this world. We live in the world but not of the world. Being eternal and indestructible, Christ’s kingship is not of this world. We also learn that His kingship is to bear witness to the truth.

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke