Jesus Christ King of the Universe

Christ King of the Universe Luke 23:35-43 The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

I am in the process of getting my Mexican citizenship. It is a 5-year process and I will have to pass an exam of the history of Mexico. Later, God willing I will be a Mexican. But I don't know if I’ll really be Mexican. For you it's easier, if someone is born here or has Mexican parents one is Mexican. But what does it mean to be Mexican? They say that the first Mexicans were the children of the priest Jerónimo de Aguilar, who was shipwrecked in Yucatan in 1511 eight years before the arrival of Cortés. Children with both spanish and indigenous blood. I'm not trying to teach you a lesson in the history of Mexico or explain the ethnology of being Mexican. Today we are celebrating the feast of Christ the King, and if Christ is a King, He has His land, and he must also have his subjects. If one is born in Mexico they are automatically Mexican, what do we have to do to be Christians? What identifies us as subjects of Christ the King? In other words, I think we can say that the first subject of Christ the King was not St. Peter or one of the apostles, but the good thief, when he recognized Jesus as King and said, "Lord, when you come into your kingdom, remember me." A thief, someone who died with the death penalty, was the first subject of Jesus, the first to enter the kingdom of Christ the King. Mexico only had one King for less than two years Maximilian and Charlotte, we can still visit their castle, which Mexico proudly proclaims as the only true castle in the Americas. We know very well what the kings of this world are like, they have their castles, their thrones, they have power, and riches. The Kings of this world come to be served and to dominate others. But Jesus is a different King. He did not come to be served but to serve. He did not come to dominate, but was dominated. He was not a king who took, but the gave, even his very life. He was ridiculed and despised. Worst of all, he had no power at all. I don't know if Chapultapec has the throne of Maximilian, but the throne of Jesus is here, it's the cross. And from his throne Jesus was mocked by the soldiers, "Are you a King? Then save yourself." Even the other thief mocked him as well, "If you are the King, save yourself and us." So if we want to be subjects of this King we have to follow the footsteps of the good thief. We have to recognize that our King did not come to take from the people but to give to the people. We have to follow his example. We have to recognize that true power is in serving, it is in giving. Today's second reading tells us perfectly well what Jesus' kingdom is like: For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. If today we are going to claim Jesus as our King, we need to kneel in front of his throne the cross and shout with Miguel Pro and all the Mexican martyrs, Long live Christ the King!