How To Be King

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 162 | Christ the King | Sunday, November 24, 2019

In the Gospel today we have a very interesting image of Jesus as Christ the King – Jesus suffering on the Cross.  Yes, Pilate does put the sign ‘The King of the Jews’ over his head, but Jesus suffering on the Cross is Kingship.  Therese – Therese of Lisieux – says, “You will not arrive at what you desire by your own path or even by high contemplation but only by a great humility and surrender of the heart.”  That’s what we see with Jesus on the Cross: great humility, great surrender, great peace.  This is Kingship in the Church.  This is the call of today’s feast.