Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday of the year. Although every holiday has a spirituality and charm of its own, Thanksgiving is special in many ways.

As an adult, I have become acutely aware of the many blessings God has given me. Although I know I am obligated to give thanks every day, the opportunity to dedicate a day to giving thanks as a community is precious beyond words.

As a child, however, my fascination with Thanksgiving was a little less profound. I liked the food, the family getting together and the Macy’s parade. I would sit glued to the television, hoping with reasonable certainty that at the end of the line of marchers would be Santa Claus. Thanksgiving was a day of passage, marking the official beginning of the Christmas season. That night streetlights were lit, Christmas music was on the radio, decorations were up and something magical was in the air.

For us, the Feast of Christ the King, is also a rite of passage. Next Sunday, we begin our celebration of Advent and focus our gratitude on God’s free gift of Himself in Jesus Christ. Decorations will go up and music will reflect the season. Today’s Gospel, the Crucifixion, stands in dramatic contrast to the upcoming stories of mangers and stars but helps keep our perspective.

Although it is good and necessary that we remember and celebrate the realities of Bethlehem, we can never forget that the Child born over 2,000 years ago is the Savior who died for the forgiveness of our sins. It is at the moment remembered in today’s Gospel that Jesus teaches perfect obedience and absolute trust in the Father’s will. It is here that He calls most loudly, “Follow me.” As odd as it may seem, it is on the throne of the cross, that He is called “king.”

Scripturally, Jesus does not use the title “king” in referring to Himself. That proclamation is made by Pilate. What does it mean? Believe it or not, we get some insight into the title from Ralph Kramden, Jackie Gleason’s comic character from the classic show, “The Honeymooners.” In one episode, he is having one of his temper tantrums and yells at his wife, Alice, “I am the king of the castle. You are nothing.” Beating his chest, he says, “king,” and pointing at her, “nothing.”

Not one to be outdone, Alice simply responds, “That’s right, Ralph. You’re the king of nothing.” Cleverly this scene points out that kingship is not simply a matter of proclamation but is also an invitation. A king without subjects is really not a king at all. If we call Christ the King, we have to respond. Today’s Gospel contrasts three possible responses.

Subtly, we see the confusion of Pilate. He puts up the placard that names Christ, “King of the Jews.” Yet, we hear nothing of him converting and becoming a believer. He wrote what he wrote but we have to wonder whether or not he actually believed it. The world is filled with people who know what words to use but whose lives betray those words.

The jeering thief in the Gospel simply rejects Christ as King. His thoughts on “kingship” are simple – get me down from this cross. If you save yourself and us, I will believe. How easy it is to confuse Jesus and Santa by simply presuming that our belief should be contingent upon getting what we want.

Then, there is the response of the other thief, the one we traditionally call the good thief. He does not demand anything – not even an explanation. But simply asks remembrance in the kingdom. It is in this brief exchange on their crosses that Jesus and the thief have what I believe to be the most intimate conversation in all the Scriptures. This is the only time that anyone calls Jesus by His name and the only time anyone is promised a place in the kingdom. It is also the first time that someone literally accepts his cross and follows Jesus.

On the cusp of Advent, we celebrate Christ the King. We are challenged to remember that “thy kingdom come” and “thy will be done” are intrinsically connected. May we celebrate his kingship by loyal service and anticipate an Advent full of promise.

Msgr. Calise is the rector-principal of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, Elmhurst.

   Readings for the Feast of Christ the King:
   2 Samuel 5: 1-3
   Colossians 1: 12-20
   Luke 23: 35-43