What kind of king is Jesus Christ? On this Solemnity, Br. Sullivan McCormick, SJ, reflects on the king that stays with us, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Based on the readings for Sunday, November 21, 2021.
Today on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, I’m left wondering, who is this King we worship?
Hi, I’m Br. Sullivan McCormick and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
During a recent visit to the Art Institute of Chicago and I stumbled upon Pope Francis’ favorite painting, the “White Crucifixion” by Marc Chagall. Jesus is dressed in traditional Jewish garments surrounded by scenes depicting the suffering and persecution of Jewish people in 1930s Germany.
The painting shows us that this king does not watch from afar. He is at the center of our suffering, radiating a white light of self-sacrificial love, peace, and hope. So in our times of suffering – whether that be a continued pandemic, the existential threat of climate change, or refugees seeking safety
Again I ask, who is this king we worship?
Our second reading from Revelations tells us: the one “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …”
And in his divine stubbornness, the king stays at the center, continuing to bleed love.
