Our image of Jesus as a carpenter who cared for people in need and the necessities of life does not fit our image of Christ as King. The problem is that our image of kingship is not very positive. Kings were often tyrannical and self serving. And we often forget that at our Baptism we are all anointed priest, prophet and king. So what is the true function of a king? It is to see that all of his subjects, everyone entrusted to his care, is treated equally and shares equally in the benefits and resources of the kingdom. That is the message Christ the King taught and demonstrated to us. We share in Christ’s kingship. Whatever we do for the least in His kingdom, we do for Him. He depends on us to do it. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we should be grateful to live in a country that allows us to be kingly like Jesus – to do all we can for those who are the least in His Kingdom: the unborn, the elderly, the homeless, the sick, the dying, and the imprisoned.
