For some, the Feast of Christ the King has a sort of negative ring. After all, history is full of examples of oppression and brutality at the hands of kings. Our own world is a victim of so many abuses of power by people in positions of authority. Why do we need a king? Jesus presents us with a very different model of kingship. The first reading describes a true shepherd, one who has compassionate concern for the sheep. It is an office of service. Christ must reign until all the enemies of God are subjected to Him. But He will do it in His own way. He reigns only in order to bring creation back into harmony with God. Then He even hands over His authority to the Father. His kingship is exercised in order to save us. But the Gospel image of the king is the most telling. Jesus is a king of a thousand disguises. He is present in the ordinary, the poor, the marginalised, the rejected, the hurt, the needy. Our response to the needs of others, especially the lowliest, is the response we make to the King Himself. True power and authority is love, humility, justice, and service. Other forms of power are poor imitations. Let us exercise our power and authority of love each day - that is what it means to rule.