Jesus is king of love, peace and joy

November 25, 2007 -- The Solemnity of Christ the King

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What is your understanding of the kingship of Christ? 2. What does "Your Kingdom come" mean for you? 3. To whom do you show allegiance?

Our hymns carry our theology. What we believe, we proclaim in word and song. Based upon Psalm 23, the hymn "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" gives us an insight into the mystery of our God revealed in Jesus. Just ponder the lyrics of the first stanza: "The King of Love my Shepherd is, / Whose goodness fails me never; / I nothing lack if I am His, / And He is mine forever."

Jesus is the king of love. Pope Benedict XVI dramatically emphasized in his first encyclical our conviction that God is love. As Christians, we believe that that love is revealed in the person of Jesus. Proof of that love lies in the cross: the total-self-giving of Jesus. Even as he was dying, Jesus reached out to the repentant criminal and assured him that he would be saved. ". . . this day you will be with me in paradise." Love does such things.

Jesus is also the king of peace. Again, that peace came through the redeeming action of the Cross. St. Paul tells us that we have been saved from the power of darkness and are given entrance into the kingdom of Jesus. In Christ, the fullness of God resides and reconciliation has become a possibility, more, a reality. It is precisely in the forgiveness of our sins that peace floods the soul. Jesus is the king of reconciliation.

And Jesus is the king of joy. In the Old Testament, Saul and David were anointed kings. To have a good and strong leader is a joy to a nation. Without a good "shepherd," people can lose heart and become discouraged. Surely, as Saul and David were anointed, the people rejoiced and gave thanks to God. All this despite the fact that both David and Saul had major flaws. God works through weak instruments and brings joy to others in a whole variety of ways.

Each of us has to ask a fundamental question as disciples of the Lord. Who is Jesus for us? So many titles come to mind: Lord, Redeemer, Friend, Brother, Son of God, Savior, Shepherd. Probably few of us, growing up in a political system of democracy, are comfortable with the notion of a king. It sounds too regal, too authoritarian, too elite. Yet, Jesus' kingship is all about service, forgiveness, compassion, and love. These qualities are the ones that we can identify with and in which we find meaning. In so far as we follow this humble, forgiving, compassionate, and loving King, we will know that God's reign is all about peace and joy.

In 1994, the popular movie "The Lion King" was a major success. At bottom, it is a story of liberation as the Lion King, Simba, is able to bring goodness to a land where evil reigned. The Lion King brought peace where there was chaos, and life where there was death.

Jesus is our true King, bringing us peace, life, and joy.

(Bishop Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)