Christ the King 2007
November 2007
When Jesus of Nazareth was unjustly executed on a cross, two other men were executed with him. One on his right and the other on his left. Over the cross of Jesus was nailed an inscription giving the reason for his execution. It said ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.’ One of the men executed with Jesus derided him as they hung on the crosses awaiting death. ‘If you are a king,’ he taunted, ‘then save yourself and us.’ But the other man rebuked him and addressing Jesus said, ‘Jesus remember me when you enter your kingdom.’ Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
In life, I have a choice. I can be like the soldiers who mocked Jesus. I can be like the criminal on the cross who derided Jesus. I can be like his disciples and Apostles who ran away and made themselves anonymous at this time. I can be like the thief who spoke out and said, ‘Jesus remember me when you enter your kingdom.’ I can be like Mary, the other women and St John the Apostle who followed Him bravely and stood beneath the cross in mute and helpless loyalty.
We are aware of various different tensions between politics and religion in the many moral questions being debated in our times. Tensions between politics and religion are nothing new and people placing God first is nothing new either. An Englishman, Hilaire Bellock, who was a member of Parliament was heckled, during a campaign speech, for being a Catholic. He responded, “Gentlemen, I am a Catholic. As far as possible, I go to Mass every day……… If you reject me on account of my religion, I shall thank God that He has spared me the indignity of being your representative.” The crowd was astonished and responded with applause. Belloc put God first.
Another Englishman who paid with his life for putting God first is Thomas More, who was Lord Chancellor. He resigned when Parliament passed a law forcing clergy to acknowledge King Henry VIII as head of the Church. Thomas More refused to take the oath and he was beheaded. His final words were, “The King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
Both Belloc and Thomas More were the king’s good servants but God’s servants first. And what about myself? How often do I retreat quietly into timid anonymity when Jesus Christ my King is being derided?