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(24th November 2024) 34th Sunday - Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

READ: (Dan 7: 13-14; Rev 1: 5-8; Jn 18: 33-37)

REFLECT: Christ is King of the universe, a universal king…

Dear friends, we are in the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. We end the liturgical year with the commemoration of Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. Its prime focus is on the rule of Christ over all creation. The feast was instituted in 1925 with the encyclical Quas Primas to respond to growing secularism and the denial of Christ’s authority socio-political scenario. The solemn celebration of Christ the king of the universe is a reminder that the peaceful, joyful and meaningful life is obtained under leadership of Christ as the King and his kingship is eternal. The Solemnity of Christ the King is a transition from ordinary time of the liturgical year to the season of Advent, preparing intensely and eagerly to welcome baby Jesus at Christmas. Thus, the Solemnity of Christ the King calls us to reflect on Christ’s authority, live under his reign and manifest the kingdom of God in our daily lives. So based on the readings of  the day, I would like to share with you three points of reflection, as how we can promote the Kingship of Jesus, live it in our lives and share it with others, the reign of God.

1.      Jesus – an eternal King

The kingdom established by human hands is subject to destruction is a plain fact. The kingdom of Human persons is only temporary and does not last forever.  As everyone is subjected to death, so also the post or the powers we hold as well vanish and does not remain with us forever.  However, the kingship of Jesus and the kingdom of God lasts forever, because it is he who created us and reigns over us. The reign of God is not merely authoritative dominating the people or seeking for personal favors, glory and honor for want of name and fame rather we give to God, the king of our hearts and universe, what he really deserves. That’s what the First Reading from Prophet Daniel speaks of the Kingship of Christ and His kingdom forever and always, his kingdom will have no end and it shall not be destroyed. To him be all glory, honor and power belongs to him.

The first reading from the book of Daniel manifests to us the understanding of kingship and the promised messiah in a Jewish setting. We all know that the Jewish people expected a glorious messiah and not the suffering messiah.  So we see in the book of Daniel in his vision, the dramatic presentation of Jesus’ kingship, with the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. This particular passage is attributed as a messianic passage, speaking about Jesus’ coming, the messiah. The scholars share that these two verses of the day’s reading from the book of Daniel has theological nuances. The expression “Son of Man” appears to be the equivalent of “man,” but when “One like the Son of Man” appears, the title has particular rather than general significance.

It is all the more significant that this title Son of Man is used in the New Testament exclusively for Jesus.  The one like Son of Man is attributed to Jesus, the Son of God, and the long awaited Messiah, who is to come into the world. The son of man is in contrast to the man-become-beast in the earlier elements in the vision in the book of Daniel. The Son of Man is able to stand in the presence of the God. The Son of Man is worthy to receive dominion and glory and all would serve Him. Yes, as we all know that our first parents have failed in their duty and responsibility by disobedience, we have Jesus as a New Adam, by his obedience to God has recovered the loss of dominion by his obedience to God the Father. Thus, Jesus, the Son of God, king of all is worthy of praise, honor and glory, because Jesus reflected the glory of God in his life.

Today, how can we make the kingship of Jesus prosper or promote in our world is what we need think and act on. First and foremost, we need to give glory and honor to God that’s due, because all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus. The world has seen and witnessed several kings like the Babylonian King, Persian King, Greco-roman kings and many others kings and kingdoms possible on earth till today. All kings and kingdoms have vanished, but the Kingdom of God and the Kingship of Jesus still exists and will live for eternity, because Jesus is the eternal king, who lives forever in our hearts. The Kingship of Jesus is eternal because he is our God and the kingly affairs of Jesus is different, because it was not domination rather love, service and compassion.

Pope Francis very beautifully shares his point, while reflecting on today’s first reading from Prophet Daniel about his vision at night: “ The prophet Daniel tells us that he saw the Lord coming with the clouds as he “watched in the night visions” (Dan 7:13). God also comes in the night, amid the often dark clouds that gather over our life. We all know such moments. We need to be able to recognize him, to look beyond the night, to lift our gaze in order to see him amid the gloom. Watch in the night visions”! It means letting your eyes remain bright even amid the darkness. Never stop seeking the light amid whatever darkness we may often bear in our hearts or see all around us. Lift your gaze from earth to heaven, not in order to flee but to resist the temptation to remain imprisoned by our fears, for there is always the danger that our fears will rule us. Do not remain closed in on ourselves and our complaints. Lift up your eyes! Get up!” Yes, we need to lift up our eyes to see the Lord, who is ready to rule over our hearts for life eternal. Let us be prepared and come closer to meet Jesus, the eternal king for life eternal.

2.      Jesus – the King frees us

We all of us know the intent of a king of worldly sort. They are mostly rooted in arrogance, pride, power and honor. They become self-centered kings in order to free themselves first and then others. We would find no quality of humility, love, and promise to true freedom for others, because they are interested in themselves and not in the welfare of others. But if we look at the life of Jesus, unlike earthly kings who often seek power and dominion, Jesus seeks to rule with mercy, justice, and a desire for the liberation of us, His people. That’s what we see in the second reading from the book of Revelation. It speaks of a king, who ruled the earth, loved, freed and washed our sins by his blood to make us all part of his kingdom. Jesus is an exemplary king with the sacrificial nature of love and compassion.

The second reading from the book of Revelation opens with a sentence that Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead and the ruler of kings on earth. Yes, Christ is the faithful witness to the love of Father by an act of obedience and holy sacrifice. Jesus is first born from the dead, because he defeated death by way of resurrection. Jesus is the ruler of all the kings of earth, because Jesus is the Lord of the universe and the author of life. That’s what we hear towards the end of the second reading we hear God saying to us, “I am the Alpha and Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Yes, God is the beginning of life and where our life ends too. It shows the fullness of God’s power, sovereignty, authority and dominion. Although, God has every power overpower us yet, God chooses to empower us with an act of kindness and compassion, love and care, choosing to set us free from every sin and death.

Moreover, we hear in the Gospel of John “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn 8:36). This particular verse spells out the intent of Jesus our King. Jesus came on earth to set us free from every bondage and oppression.  He never wished that we live in sin and shame. That’s why Jesus went to the extent of giving his own life for us on the cross for our salvation.  So we have a King, who has sacrificed his life for the sake of his people. Thus, Jesus is an exemplary king with words and deeds by his selfless love and self-offering of himself to us. Today, it is an invitation to all of us to respect and honor the expression of God’s love manifested in Jesus by his act of self-sacrifice. Perhaps, one way of revering and honoring Christ our King today could be, showing love and compassion of God to others. By manifesting love and kindness in our world, we manifest the kind of King Jesus we have. For this we need to get rid of all the paralysis of hatred, violence, jealousy, misuse of power and honor etc.

Pope Francis while reflecting on the Solemnity of Christ the King says, “Jesus knows that if we are self-absorbed and indifferent, we remain paralyzed, but if we give ourselves to others, we become free. The Lord of life wants us to be full of life, and he tells us the secret of life: we come to possess it only by giving it away.” Elsewhere, Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of the Solemnity of Christ the Kings saying, “He gives you a chance to reign in this life, if only you surrender to His meek love that proposes but does not impose, a love that always forgives you, that always sets you on your feet, that always restores your royal dignity.” Yes, we are self-absorbed, thinking all the time about oneself; we are paralyzed in our thinking, speaking and action. Consequently, we don’t offer chance to Jesus to dwell in our heart to reign over us. The more rigid and stubborn we become to make Jesus the centre of our hearts and lives, the worse shall our lives be. Jesus offers an opportunity to free us from all paralysis that hinders us to come closer to God. Let us allow Jesus to reign over our heart and become completely his.

3.  Jesus – the king of all

We believe firmly that Jesus is king of all. In the gospel reading of the day, we hear Jesus acknowledging himself is a king, he was born for this, he came for this, to bear witness to the truth. We know that the Jewish people had in mind glorious messiah, a kind of political figure. This was their expectation. But their expectation could not be fulfilled because Jesus was not a glorious messiah, just jumping from heaven like a superman or born in a place to have the pleasures of prince and king. Jesus was born in a hut, a resident of cattle and a poor people’s house. Jesus very out rightly says, “My kingdom is not of the world.” It reveals that Jesus’ Kingship and Kingdom does not originate from this world, does not rest on this world and worldly desires and powers, in no way connected to concept of a worldly king with arrogance, armies, navies, battles and war. Just as Jesus is from above, so also his authority, power and honor from above.

What made Pilate to say that Jesus was a King?  Are you a king of the Jews? You are a king then? He asks Jesus Twice about his kingship. It shows the curiosity and contempt of Pilate. The Pilate was curious, because Pilate must have heard so many things about Jesus and his ministry and few days before Jesus was acclaimed as the king of Israel, when he made an entry into Jerusalem on donkey’s back and he perhaps wants to know in what way Jesus is King without kingdom, army, navy and battle; Pilate was contempt because Herod the Antipas was already a king, so in what way Jesus is King? Furthermore, the Pilate must be wishing to know whether Jesus would be like Caesar a rival against Romans. This could have been at the back of his mind.

However, we read from the bible that the three kings from East to south of Bethlehem came to pay homage to a new born King, who was to rule the universe in peace, truth, joy and love. They realized and revered the king but we have not. That’s why Jesus had to say, “I came to my own, my own received me not,” “my kingdom does not belong to this world, if it were to be so, they would not have rejected me, denied me, persecuted me and crucified me. It does not mean that Jesus did not have power, did not have wealth, or was not kind or did not love the people. But he was a King, different from the eyes of the world about kingship. Jesus had every possibility to show as a King in power and authority, a king of wealth and a king of kingdom. He chose nothing of these. Jesus chose love and chose love to set us free from all bondages that we were caught up with.

That’s what Pope Francis would say, “In such a situation, he had every right to defend himself, and even “make an arrangement” by coming to a compromise. Instead, Jesus did not hide his identity; he did not mask his intentions, or take advantage of the opening that even Pilate had left for him. With the courage born of truth, he answered: “I am a king”. He took responsibility for his own life: I have a mission and I will carry it to fulfillment in order to bear witness to my Father’s Kingdom. “For this”, he says, “I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn 18:37). This is Jesus, who came without duplicity, in order to proclaim by his life that his Kingdom is different from the kingdoms of the world; that God does not reign in order to increase his power and to crush others; he does not reign by force of arms. His is the Kingdom of love: “I am a king”, but of this Kingdom of love; “I am a king” of the Kingdom of those who give their lives for the salvation of others.” Yes, Jesus was a king of different sort and his kingdom is entirely different from that of the worldly kingdom. We need to aspire to be part of such heavenly kingdom that’s in store for us.

Looking a little more deeply in the scripture, we find Jesus a king in the following manner; Jesus - the king with the power of PEACE. That’s why Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you my friends, peace the world cannot give” (Jn 14:27)). Jesus - the King with the wealth of TRUTH. That’s why Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).  In John’s Gospel we hear Jesus saying, “Know the truth and the truth will set you free,” (Jn 8:32).  In today’s gospel reading we hear from the mouth of Jesus, “I have come to bear witness to the TRUTH and the one who knows the TRUTH will hear my voice.” Yes, this truth is nothing but what we find in Jn 3:16 “God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that we may not perish but have eternal life.” The truth is that God loved us in Jesus and has a deep desire to save us and give us eternal life.

Jesus - the king with an act of LOVE and KINDNESS. The Kingdom does not lay how a kingly a king lives but how kindly he gives, loves and serves his own people in his kingdom. This act of giving, loving and serving what makes a remarkable difference in the attitude of the King. That’s what we find in the life of Jesus at the last supper, “Do what I have done to you… (Jn 13:15). Usually a worldly king wages war against another king for want of power and kingdom. But Jesus waged war against the worldly principles to prove God’s love for us not with a war of violence but with a scar of love i.e., death on a cross and obtaining new life by resurrection. The highest rank or greatest commandment of all can be summed up in the commandment of love, love for God and love for neighbors as we love oneself.

Therefore, how can we Christians make this Solemnity of Christ the Universal King more meaningful and worthwhile; It is by bringing and promoting peace in a world marked with violence and bloodshed, in a family with conflicts and confusions about our living. It is by promoting truth which ultimately triumphs and wins the show of the world. For this we must speak, support truth and righteousness. Be it at times may cost martyrdom and shame, persecutions and problems. It is by serving the poor with kindness. There are millions of people live hungry, homeless, rejected, depressed, and lonely. Can we contribute our share? It may be physical and social or financial or spiritual gestures. It is by loving. In a world wherein we fail at times to understand what it means to love, loving and loveable, we are called to love God, neighbors and ourselves. If Jesus had conquered the world with love, we can also conquer the hearts of people with love, provided our love for one another is genuine and real. Thus on this day we pray that we promote peace, truth, kindness and love all over the world. So that this world which is the kingdom of God may be a better place for all of us to live.

RESPOND:

Do we believe that Jesus is our eternal king, who reigns over our lives?

Do we believe that Jesus our King has set us free and has the power to free us from all evil even today?

Do we acknowledge and believe that Jesus is the King of all, the whole universe?

Let us believe and acknowledge that Jesus is the king of our heart, lives and the entire universe. Amen.