“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”- Luke 23:42
For me, this Bible verse sums up what it means to be a disciple in the Kingdom of Christ: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” (1 Peter 3:15). This reminds me that Jesus is the Lord of my heart; He reigns there as King. Our solemnity this Sunday is Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. If I want Jesus to be the King of the entire universe, then my goal is to make my heart ground zero for His kingship so He can reign in my heart and in society.
Follow the Lord
Being Christian disciples means that we follow Christ. We seek to be led by Him and Him alone. It means putting aside your own will in order to allow God’s will to reign. In this way, we can confidently pray during the Our Father: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Actively doing God’s will instead of our own manifests a small part of His kingdom here and now.
Imitate the Lord
Imitating Christ is another way that you can sanctify Christ as Lord. When we seek to conform ourselves to His image, we get closer to becoming the people that God wants us to be. Little by little, imitate Jesus’s perfect virtues, we will become more like Him. A good book to help you reflect on this is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis.
Receive the Lord
Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist frequently is a key way that you can conform yourself to Him. When we receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lord, we gradually become more like Him. St. Augustine said, “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.”
On this feast day, consider inviting Jesus to reign in your heart completely. Memorize 1 Peter 3:15 and call it to mind at the beginning of each day. Offer yourself to Him and allow Him to lead all of your thoughts, words, and actions. Ask Him to give you the grace to strengthen you for your mission as a woman, man, or child in His kingdom.
Jesus, please reign in my heart! Make my heart like unto thine. Thy Kingdom Come!