Kings and Things

Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43

At the very beginning of the Gospel, Jesus goes into the desert to be tempted by Satan, who three times says that if he is the Son of God to do various things - turn stones to bread, hurl himself off the Temple mount, accept worldly power.  All are self-interested and self-serving temptations, all of which Jesus rejects.  Now, on the cross he faces the same taunts: if you are God's son, save yourself, and us too!  Self-interest at its maximum!  

Worldly kings are all about their self-interest.  Sure, they may protect a group of people, but not out of concern for them, but so that they might retain power and esteem among the people.  Time and again the crowd would seek to make Jesus king, but he refused.  He simply went about healing people of their infirmities, delivering them from their demons, and feeding them at table.  His kingship is one of service.  His throne is the cross.  His orb a water basin.  His scepter a towel.  

Today's feast is not about instituting some Christian dynasty on earth.  Nor is it reducing the Gospel to some political program or following worldly leaders.  It is about following what our king did while on earth - healing others, liberating them from their demons, feeding them at table.  Our king is the one who reminded us his kingdom is not of this world.  It is a kingdom within us, and a kingdom beyond us, one we inhabit when we do what he did.