Every four years, the citizens of the United States elect the person who will be president for the next four years.

 

Every two years, voters in each congressional district choose the person they want to serve in the House of Representatives. In addition, the voters of certain states pick the person who will fill a six-year term in the US Senate.

 

Besides these elections to choose people for national office, there are also yearly elections to choose state and local leaders such as governors, county executives, mayors, town council members, etc.

 

Every year, voters must choose the men and women who will serve on a national, state, or local level. In a democracy, citizens elect their leaders.

 

But there is an election that takes place far more often than once a year and is not confined to the month of November. This election takes place every day, and often several times during the same day.

 

That election is for the person who will govern our spiritual and moral lives and inform and guide our decisions.

 

We are reminded of who that person should be as we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

 

In our First Reading (Daniel 7:13-14), we hear of one who “received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion.”

 

In our Second Reading (Revelation 1:5-8), Jesus Christ is described as “the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.”

 

In our Gospel (John 18:33b-37), as he speaks to Pilate, Jesus does not deny he is a king, but says, “My kingdom does not belong to his world.”

 

These readings, as well as Sunday’s feast, proclaim that Jesus is the king who frees humanity from the power of sin, reveals the meaning and purpose of life, proclaims the truth in a world filled with lies, and frees humanity from the power of sin and death.

 

Jesus Christ is the one who came so he might be our Savior and Lord. But for him to have that role in our personal lives, we have to “elect” him. We have “vote” for him to be our king. We do this each and every day by the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the words we say.

 

Unlike national, state, and local elections that happen each year, the “election” of Jesus Christ to be our leader, guide, and ruler in our lives is something that is always happening. Each day we decide whether or not we will cast our vote for Christ the King.

 

© 2024 Rev. Thomas Iwanowski