The first reading tells us how David, after defeating all his enemies, was anointed king over all of Israel. His kingdom great and powerful, became the image and symbol of the kingdom of peace and justice that God would one day establish on earth. Israel waited for so many centuries the coming of the one who was to start this kingdom which in today's gospel we receive the answer of God to all these expectations, a reply that people find disappointing, because Jesus was not proclaimed king as he sat on a golden throne, but when he was nailed on the cross. "Above the head of Jesus on the cross, Pilate the Governor had placed an ironic inscription: ''This is the King of the Jews."  We replace that inscription with our profession of faith: "Christ is our King." To him we pray: "Remember us when you enter upon your reign."

That prayer has already been answered because through Christ we have redemption. We have been rescued from the kingdom of sin. He is a God who does not think and reason like humans. He does not judge, he does not condemn, he does not discriminate, does not weigh good and evil with the scales, does not put up barriers between the upright and wicked. He loves the upright and the wicked in the same measure and does not allow anybody to get lost. Let's then, all together, keep going out into the whole world to announce and proclaim the great news: ''Our King is the Christ the Lord, and the love of Christ the King is greater than our sins."

The Christ becomes real to the people around us only in so far as we reach out and show concern for their welfare and commit ourselves to fostering their dignity. Whatever good or evil we do to others is done to him. Christ rules in our hearts and in the world around us when we give of our time, energy and love in performing practical acts of Charity.