JESUS THE NAZARENE: THE KING OF THE JEWS

Abstract

How the Kingdom of God is understood, interpreted and conveyed may differ from one context to another, precisely because it depends on the many different backgrounds of the presenters. The underlining factor, the substratum, however, is the Word of God, which lasts forever because it is always intact. In the final analysis, Jesus Christ the incarnate Word of God is really the heart of the whole talk about the kingdom of God. We meet him, hear him, and celebrate with him, as he offers himself to the Father in the liturgy. We touch him, and take him, and eat of his body, and drink of his blood in the Holy Eucharist. His message could not have been louder and clearer, namely, love one another as I have loved you; and the greatest among you must be your servant; and store up your treasures in heaven where nothing can devour them. The kingdom of God will be examined here in the context of the liturgical celebration of Christ the king, in order to draw out some specific meanings of the solemnity, and see its implications for us.