Christ the King

Welcome to our Bible
Study
Solemnity of the Christ the
King B
22 November 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st
Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming, in the clouds of
heaven; when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him, 14 the one like a Son
of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall
not be taken away, his kingship shall not be
destroyed.
The focus is on the kingship.

Textual Context of Daniel 7:13-14
General Outline (NAB)
 First Section: Stories of Daniel and his 3 companions as heroes (chapters
1-6)
 Second Section: Revelation told by Daniel in the first person (chapters 7-12)
 Third Section: Short stories which are not found in the Hebrew / Aramaic
text of Daniel, but only in the Greek and Latin.
Second Section:
Daniel’s Dream of the 4 Beasts (7,1-28)
Daniel’s Dream of the ram and the goats (8,1-27)
Daniel’s Prayer and the vision of 70 weeks (9,1-27)
Vision of the Hellenistic Wars (chs.10-12)
Susanna’s Virtue (ch.13)
Bel and Dragon (ch.14)

1st
Reading: Daniel 7,13-14
 13 As the visions
during the night
continued, I saw one
like a Son of man
coming, in the clouds
of heaven; when he
reached the Ancient
One and was
presented before him,
14 the one like a Son
of man received
dominion, glory, and
kingship;
all peoples, nations,
and languages serve
him. His dominion is
an everlasting
dominion that shall not
be taken away, his
kingship shall not be
destroyed.
Commentary
 The book of Daniel is an apocalyptic
literature.
 The passage is about the ONE, like
the Son of Man. (Who is this? Is he
different from the Son of Man or the same?)
 The following are his descriptions:
 Coming (to us), in clouds of heaven
 Was presented before the Ancient One
(the Father?)
 Received dominion, glory, kingship
 All peoples… serve him.
 The description of his dominion:
 Can’t be taken away
 Can’t be destroyed

Reflections on the 1st
reading
 Because we are celebrating the solemnity of
Christ the King, we have to be keen on all that
pertains to the kingship of Christ.
 God’s kingdom (dominion) has no end. No
earthly kingdom can challenge and defeat it.
 We, humans, are not kings, but only servants of
the great King.
 We cannot compete with the power of Christ the
King.

Responsorial Psalm 93:1. 1-2. 5
 R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
 1 The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
 1 And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
2 Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
 5 Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.

Responsorial Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5
 R. (1a) The LORD is king; he
is robed in majesty.
 1 The LORD is king, in
splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt
about with strength.
 1 And he has made the
world firm, not to be
moved.
2 Your throne stands firm
from of old; from
everlasting you are, O
LORD.
 5 Your decrees are worthy
of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
Commentary
 The psalm is a royal psalm.
 V.1 acknowledges the Lord (God) as
king.
 He is dressed (robed) like a king.
 He is strong and powerful. He
stabilizes the world.
 V.2 tells that God’s throne is also
stable. It cannot be shaken by time
and other powers.
 In v.5, the psalmist sees God’s
decrees (laws) as trustworthy (They
do not lead to perdition, but
salvation.)
 God’s house (palace) is adorned
with holiness.

Reflections on the Psalm
 Like the psalmist, we, Christians, must acknowledge the
supremacy of God.
 No one among us can be greater than God, in power
and in majesty.
 If ever we have authority or power, it is nothing
compared to that of God.
 Ours is only transitory.
 We must be humble always in front of our great king,
Lord and God, who manages the earth and the universe.
 Projecting a bigger image of ourselves is a sign of
delusion, mental illness or emotional imbalance.

2nd
Reading: Revelation 1:5-8
 5 Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of
the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him
who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his
blood, 6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests
for his God and Father, to him be glory and power
forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming amid
the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those
who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will
lament him. Yes. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the
Omega, " says the Lord God, "the one who is and
who was and who is to come, the almighty."
The focus is on the kingship of Christ.

Textual Context of Rev 1,5-8
The Structure and Plan of John’s Revelation (source )
 A. Prologue: imminence of the faithful witness’ coming, with covenant sanctions (1,1-8)
 B. Vision: imperfect church in the world promised salvation for perseverance (1,9—3,21)
 C. Seven Seals: already and not yet judgments on the world (4,1-8,1)
 Prelude: the conquering lamb-lion on heaven’s throne (4,1—5,14)
 Vision: opening of the book, judgments initiated by the conquering horsemen
 and completed directly by God (6,1-17; 8,1)
 Interlude: saints protected, receiving final salvation from the lamb, and clothed in white (ch. 7)
 D. Seven Trumpets: judgments on the ungodly world and the great city (8,2—11,18)
 Prelude: heavenly commissioning of seven angels (8,2-6)
 Vision: sounding of the trumpets of judgment (8,7—9,21; 11,14-18)
 Interlude: witnessing church versus persecuting world (101,--11,13)
 E. War of the Ages (11,19—14,20)
 Prelude: ark of the covenant in heaven (11,19)
 Vision: dragon and beasts versus the heavenly woman, her child, and the saints (12,1—13,18)
 Interlude: covenant sanctions involving judgment, though blessing is included (ch. 14)
 D’. Seven Bowls: judgments on the world and the great city (15,1—19,10)
 Prelude: heavenly commissioning of seven angels (ch. 15)
 Vision: bowls of judgment poured out (ch. 16)
 Interlude: the world as an ungodly prostitute versus the church as a faithful Bride (17,1—19,10)
 C’. The World’s Final Judgment Portrayed from Various Perspectives (19,11—21,8)
 Prelude: the conquering Messiah and his army (19,11-16)
 Vision: the messianic horseman judges the ungodly horsemen led by the false
 prophet, the judgment of Satan and his hordes, the opening of books for judgment (19,17—20,15)
 Interlude: the lamb’s bride adorned for her divine husband (21,1-8)
 B’. Vision: the perfect church in glory having received the promised salvation (21,9—22,5)
 A’. Epilogue: the imminence of Christ’s coming attested by the faithful witness (22,6-21)

2nd
Reading: Revelation 1,5-8
 5 Jesus Christ is the
faithful witness, the
firstborn of the dead and
ruler of the kings of the
earth. To him who loves
us and has freed us from
our sins by his blood, 6
who has made us into a
kingdom, priests for his
God and Father, to him
be glory and power
forever and ever. Amen. 7
Behold, he is coming
amid the clouds, and
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced
him. All the peoples of
the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen. 8 "I am the
Alpha and the Omega, "
says the Lord God, "the
one who is and who was
and who is to come, the
almighty."
Commentary
Observe the titles (descriptions) of Christ:
 Faithful witness, v.5
 Firstborn of the dead, v.5
 Ruler of the kings (king of kings), v.5
Observe his actions
 Loves us, v.5
 Frees us from sins, v.5
 Makes us into a kingdom, v.6
 Makes us priests, v.6
 Coming amid clouds (similar to the 1st
reading, like the Son of Man), v.7
Other title, v.8
 Alpha and Omega (the 1st
and last letters
of the Greek alphabet) (=in charge of
time, manages time, time belongs to him;
without beginning, without end; spans all
time, not limited to time; pre-existed,
continues to exist even if chronological
time is exhausted = God)
 Theme of the Jubilee Year 2000

Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 Jesus Christ as king is in charge of time (past, present and
future). Time is interpreted in terms of our salvation.
 Christ saved us in the past, he is still saving us in the
present, and he will save us in the future when he comes
again.
 It is worthwhile to reflect on his kingly titles mentioned in
the reading.
 Those titles are not just names attached to him, but heavy
weight descriptions of his identity. They reveal his power and
glory over the powers of this world.
 Jesus Christ is the ultimate power and authority.
 We must subject ourselves to his rule.

Gospel Reading: John 18:33b-37
 33b Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or
have others told you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "I
am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief
priests handed you over to me. What have you done?“
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this
world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my
attendants would be fighting to keep me from being
handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not
here." 37 So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?“
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was
born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the
truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my
voice."
The focus is on the kingship of Christ.

Textual Context of John 18,33b-37
 I. Introduction - Prologue (ch. 1)
 II. Book of Signs – (chs. 2-12)
 III. Book of Glory – (chs.13-20)
1) Arrest and Trial before the Sanhedrin (18,1-27)
2) Jesus Before Pilate (18,28—19,16)
3) Crucifixion, Death and Burial (19,17-42)

 33b Pilate said to Jesus, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" 34
Jesus answered, "Do you say
this on your own or have
others told you about me?" 35
Pilate answered, "I am not a
Jew, am I? Your own nation
and the chief priests handed
you over to me. What have
you done?“ 36 Jesus
answered, "My kingdom does
not belong to this world. If my
kingdom did belong to this
world, my attendants would be
fighting to keep me from being
handed over to the Jews. But
as it is, my kingdom is not
here." 37 So Pilate said to him,
"Then you are a king?“ Jesus
answered, "You say I am a
king. For this I was born and
for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the
truth listens to my voice."
Commentary
 The text is a dialogue between
a procurator (a governor only,
not king) and Jesus “the king of
the Jews.”
 A dialogue between one who is
in-charge of a certain space on
earth and one whose kingdom
goes beyond it.
 Jesus’ kingdom is not in any
way under the jurisdiction of
Pilate nor any king.
 The dialogue is not actually a
dialogue in the real sense of the
word, for it is done in the
context of an investigation.

 33b Pilate said to Jesus, "Are
you the King of the Jews?" 34
Jesus answered, "Do you say
this on your own or have others
told you about me?" 35 Pilate
answered, "I am not a Jew, am
I? Your own nation and the
chief priests handed you over
to me. What have you done?“
36 Jesus answered, "My
kingdom does not belong to
this world. If my kingdom did
belong to this world, my
attendants would be fighting to
keep me from being handed
over to the Jews. But as it is,
my kingdom is not here." 37 So
Pilate said to him, "Then you
are a king?“ Jesus answered,
"You say I am a king. For this I
was born and for this I came
into the world, to testify to the
truth. Everyone who belongs to
the truth listens to my voice."
 Jesus admits he is a king,v.34
(v.37 also), but he is
misunderstood by Pilate. v.35
 Unlike Pilate, we understand
the kingship of Jesus, because
we are prepared to believe
that his is not of this world.
V.36.
 Jesus came as a king “to
testify to the truth.” (to serve
the truth) v.37
 What is truth? Truth here is
his own affirmation of his own
identity as the one sent by
God to save us.
 As king, he has to speak out,
on behalf of his Father in
heaven.
 The challenge for us is to
listen to him. V.37

Reflections on the gospel readingReflections on the gospel reading
 The kingship of Jesus is not bound to a specific
territory, people, or a mindset (ideology).
 His kingship relativizes the powers of this world,
who believe their authority is absolute.
 We, Christians, must be attuned to the teachings
of Christ the King.
 We listen to the truth that Christ brings about.
 We don’t associate with little kings, who give
nothing.

Tying the three readings and the Psalm
 The first reading talks about the “Son of Man”
coming down from heaven, with full power and
authority from God, greater than earthly kings.
 The psalm acknowledges God as king.
 The second reading talks about the absolute
power of Jesus, not bound by time and space. His
kingship is enduring.
 The gospel talks about Christ as king, whose
priority is to bring truth and salvation, not money
and power.

How to develop your homily and sharing
 Begin by describing how we celebrate Christ the
King. (solemn processions, people post pictures of Christ the
king, people carry statues of Christ the King, sitting on his
throne, etc.).
 Is there anything else that we can do, aside from
laboring so much on these practices?
 The preacher should bring the congregation to a
higher level of understanding of “Christ the King”
based on the readings.

 Christ the King is the one who puts order into our
world, he knocks down abusive powers (1st
reading).
He deserves all the honor and glory, not us nor
any human king.
 Christ the King is the one who reigns without
time limit. His kingdom does not age. (2nd
reading)
 Christ the King is the one who brings truth to the
world (gospel reading).
 The truth is: everybody must be subject to God’s
rule.

 What is so relevant about this feast?
 Christians must understand the real meaning of Christ’s
kingship (to testify to the truth).
 We must be on the side of Jesus, not of Pilate or whatever
he represents.
 We allow ourselves to be governed by Jesus. How?
 By aligning our thoughts and minds to his.
 We discern what he wants by reflecting the whole scriptures
and traditions (readings) of the community.

 We take care that our positions (as president,
secretary, chairman, treasurer, commander, CEO, senator,
congressman, governor, mayor) are not absolute, do
not become autocratic, autonomous, independent
from God. There is always an authority higher
than ours.
 We see to it that we (or our leadership) truly
represent our group, community’s decisions, and
the power of God, not ourselves.
 We should not arrogate ourselves to power, when
it is not given to us.
 When we hold on to power, by hook or by crook,
we become abusive and manipulative.

 The participation in the eucharist is a sign of our
acceptance of the kingship of Christ.
 Our reception of the eucharist is living in truth.
 Through the eucharist we become closer to our
Christ the King, who is here to govern our hearts
and minds.
 Powered by the eucharist, we can advance his
kingdom of peace, justice, charity, harmony and
truth here on earth.

Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Power hungry
 Rules by the barrel of
the gun, trickery and
deceit
 Manipulative
 Buys votes
 Propaganda
 Dynastism
 Totalitarianism
 Dictatorship
 Kills political
opponents
 Democratic
 Humane
 Respects human rights
and environmental
rights
 Collegial
 Collective leadership
 Truthful
 Has moral authority
 True leader

Suggested Songs
 Lord Jesus Christ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_uoXBzxgbc
 Jubilee Song
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbUytEJlnbE
 Sigaw ng Jubileo
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrC0DfQ1IeQ
 Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KPUMLZr7ng
 Bayang Tinawag
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhzcbwbfMe8

Christ the King

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