A Kingdom Within: Reflection on the Kingship of Christ

Perhaps we can describe the nature of Christ's kingship, as it grows within us,as follows: self-discipline blossoming into perfect freedom and unlimited possibilities. Furthermore, we receive the gift of his kingship and actively share in it when we are baptized into his Mystical Body, the Church. Although his kingship entails self-discipline and sacrifice, it gives us the freedom to write the symphony God created us to be, to become more than we could ever dream of becoming on our own.

P>KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - We know that Christ is a king, but what is the nature of his kingship? Two aspects of his kingship seem especially meaningful for us today, although there are others. Both of these aspects are also interesting because they are countercultural. First, Christ's kingship is based on love and service, not lording it over others. Second, it sheds light on the relationship between self-discipline and freedom. Let's look at these two aspects of Christ's kingship and their implication for us.

God did not want Israel to have an earthly king like the other nations. He was their king; but due to their obstinacy, He gave them a king. However, He also gave them the following warning: "the king will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. They will do his plowing and his harvesting and make his implements of war. He will use your daughters as ointment makers, cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials. He will tithe your crops and your flocks, and he will give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves. He will take your servants, your best oxen and your asses to do his work. And you will become his slaves" (cf. 1 Sam 8:11-18).

It is not only kings who lord it over others. Modern representative governments made up of elected officials can also lord it over others. We can see this happening in our own country as our institutions become more bureaucratic and we are forced to conform to unnatural policies or change while many of our leaders seem to enjoy more privileges and freedom. This is not the way that Christ exercised his kingship. Jesus did not treat us as his subjects. He said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn 15:13). From his example, many of our popes, Christ's representatives on earth, have taken the humble title "Servants of the Servants of God."

In addition to lording it over others, I also mentioned a second aspect of Christ's kingship. When we think of a king, we also think of someone who rules over others. This is the normal function of a king. Yet, Christ's kingship is different. While he rules over all creation, he exercised his kingship by ruling himself rather than others, by ruling his body and its desires through self-discipline. And in doing so, he won our redemption. "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him . . . " (Heb 5:8-9).

Not much importance is placed on self-discipline these days. Our relativistic culture makes it easy for us to justify much of our indulgent behavior. Not surprisingly, it has become common in our culture to equate freedom with a lack of self-discipline. But Christ showed us that self-discipline leads to true freedom and greater happiness. We can better appreciate the relationship between self-discipline and freedom if we use an example of playing the piano.

It may seem like we are free if we do not have to take music lessons, and we can sit down at the piano when we want and bang the keys how we want. On the other hand, if we take music lessons and practice everyday, then our ability to play the piano will slowly improve. In the beginning we learn the scales and how to read music. In time, we are able to pick up any piece of music and play it. Eventually, we may be able to compose and play our own music. This is true freedom, and it is far more fulfilling and satisfying than banging on the piano keys.

Similarly, we can go through life indulging our lust or greed or whatever transient pleasure we want, and call it freedom. But this is like banging on the piano keys and making noise. Conversely, by ruling our body and its desires through self-discipline and God's grace, we slowly acquire the ability to choose what is best based on the true needs of our human nature. This ability offers us true freedom and far greater happiness than self-indulgence could ever offer us. And the more free we become, the more we grow in likeness to our Lord. Perfect freedom is to "Be free, yet, without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God" (1 Pt 2:16). Thus, perfect freedom is to choose the Father's will in everything.

Based on our limited reflection, perhaps we can describe the nature of Christ's kingship as follows: self-discipline blossoming into perfect freedom and unlimited possibilities. Furthermore, this is the gift that we receive and actively share in when we are baptized into his Mystical Body, the Church. Although his kingship entails self-discipline and sacrifice, it gives us the freedom to write the symphony God created us to be, to become more than we could ever dream of becoming on our own, to become kings and queens destined to reign in true service and love with Christ for eternity. 
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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

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