For the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe…
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Luke 23:42
With Christmas on the horizon, the last thing we expect to hear in the Gospel right now is an account of Jesus’s death. It’s especially jarring on this Solemnity, the last of the liturgical season, honoring Christ the King.
But there’s a lesson here: Our King comes to us in surprising ways, in unexpected moments. He is a guest at a wedding, a visitor to a well, a traveler on a stormy sea, a criminal bleeding on a cross. And again and again, we realize: An encounter with him changes everything.
What kind of king is this?
Think of the name we will soon hear in Advent, “Emmanuel.” God-with-us. He is not detached. He listens, he empathizes, he forgives. Even in his final conversation on the Cross, Christ offers mercy to a man who pleads, “Remember me.”
Where will we encounter our King this season?
May we never tire of looking for him.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Contributor, Living Faith
This is a guest post from Deacon Greg Kandra. Learn more about him at LivingFaith.com.
