Christ the King of the Universe

People often ask, what is the most important thing in a Christian’s life? The answer usually is
God. This answer, though correct, is complex. But what does it mean when you or someone else
says God is the most important thing (person) in my life? What do we mean by God as the
important thing in life? Do we mean reading the Bible (His word)? Do we means worshiping Him
on Sundays? Do we mean teaching people on the streets about who God is? Or do we mean all the
above? Yes, but. Doing God’s things is great, but imitating Jesus’ life and works is the most
important thing in life; that is the essence of God’s Kingdom.
The Gospel teaches what Jesus’ kingdom requires of us: it reminds us that closeness and tenderness
are the rule of life for us also, and that on this basis we will be judged. This is the great parable of
the final judgment in Matthew 25. The King says: “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink….” (Mt. 25:34-36). The righteous will ask him: “When
did we do all this?” And He will answer them: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least
of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40).
The starting point of salvation is not the confession of the sovereignty of Christ, but rather the
imitation of Jesus’ works of mercy through which He brought about His kingdom. The one who
accomplishes these works shows that he has welcomed Christ’s sovereignty because he has opened
his heart to God’s charity.
In the twilight of life we will be judged on our love for, closeness to, and tenderness towards our
brothers and sisters. Upon this will depend our entry into, or exclusion from, the kingdom of God:
our belonging to the one side or the other. Through His victory, Jesus has opened to us His
kingdom. But it is for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now, by being close in concrete ways
to our brothers and sisters who ask for bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity. If we truly love them,
we will be willing to share with them what is most precious to us, the unspoken, the silent Gospel
of Jesus. These brothers and sisters are not only those within the walls of our worship building, but
also every human being we encounter in our neighborhood or workplace.