Ordinary Time 34, Year B-2009 - Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

From VincentWiki
They will look upon him whom they have pierced (Jn. 19:37; Zech. 12:10)

Everyone’s ready assumption, of course, is that a king will be found in his royal residence in his royal capital. So naturally, it was Jerusalem that the magi from the east went to in order to look for the newborn king of the Jews (Mt. 2:1-2). They found him elsewhere, however—in Bethlehem and in a house, not in a palace—and right then and there “they prostrated themselves and did him homage” (Mt. 2:11).

The wondering in the beginning similarly takes place in the end (cf. Mt. 25:31-46). But the question in the beginning is, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” In the end, on the other hand, those assembled before the Son of Man from all the nations ask: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” And the assurance from the king himself is either “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,” or “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.”

At present our eyes may not see as clearly as the eyes of St. Vincent de Paul saw and we may not have hearts as compassionate as his, so that we do not recognize the king when we see him nor do we feel for those to whom the kingdom belongs (cf. Mt. 5:3-12, 20; 18:2; 19:23-24; 21:31-32, 42-45; 1 Cor. 11:27-29). But later the truth Jesus came to testify to will be fully revealed. “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). Now we are instructed to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and are invited to his supper. In the final revelation, it will be loudly proclaimed for everyone to hear: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). Then it will become evident that the Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:14).

There will then no longer be any searching or questioning either. There will only be, in the end, prostration and homage on the part of the blessed who are welcomed to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the very beginning of the world.

For further reading: [1]; [2]; [3]