21 November 2021 John 18:33b-37
Sunday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time [Solemnity of Christ The King]
COSMIC KING
“My kingship does not come from this world” (John 18:36).
The liturgical readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King focuses on the ‘Kingship’ and ‘Kingdom’ of Jesus.
The very nouns ‘King’ and ‘Kingdom’ flashes in our minds names of the powerful kings of the human history namely, Augustus Creaser-the powerful Roman King, Alexander the Great who attempted to capture the whole world, Neapolitan Bonaparte-who ‘shook’ the world with his military power, Adolf Hitler-who pledged to eliminate Jewish from from the Earth etc. They were all power figures of their times. It is natural that people attribute ‘power’ to kings and kingdoms.
This is reflected in the questions of the three groups of people to Jesus while he was on the cross namely, (1) Rulers: V.35 ““He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The tone of the question is where is the power of Jesus the so called Messiah/King of the Jews?” (2) Soldiers: V.36 “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” The question tones the same as above. (3) Unrepentant Criminal: V. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The question has the same tone about the power of Christ the King.
Contrary to the world view of kingship and kingdom, the three gospel passages with reference to Jesus’ kingship present the picture of a “POWERLESS” King. Firstly, the picture of “a humble King” who rides on a donkey into the City of Jerusalem on his triumphant entry while Israelites expected the arrival of a Political King in majesty who rides on horse. Secondly, at the Court of Pilot the king asked him ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ The picture of Jesus the King at Pilot’s court is a totally ridiculed and tortured King. A crown of thorns (symbol of ridicule) instead of a Golden crown (symbol of royal power); anointing with spittle (powerlessness) instead of royal anointing with perfumes; reed stick in the hand instead of a scepter; bloody and torn dresses instead of kingly dress. Thirdly, on the top of the Cross it was inscribed in different languages, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’. But the cross draws the picture of an abandoned and dead King.
Total Powerlessness in the eyes of the world, but ironically HIS POWERLESSNESS TURNED OUT TO BE HIS POWER IN THE HISTORY. The power of love flew from the cross filled the world. The kingdoms the powerful kings of history established all perished and those kings live in few pages of the history book. But the kingdom imagined and preached by Jesus exists in the hearts of more than two billion people today. Every third person is a Christian in the world.
At the court of Pilate Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn.8:36). Jesus is the king of hearts. His kingdom is not a political, spatio-temporal or territorial reality. It is a spiritual reality. It exists in the heart and lives of everyone who surrenders to the love, power, glory and providence of God. When I surrender myself to the reign of God, the kingdom begins in my heart. When you do the same it is extended to your heart. When your others make the same choice it will be extended and expanded till the boundaries of the world.
The solemnity of Christ the King invites us to participate in the kingship of mainly in three ways, (1) primarily by sharing in the sufferings of Jesus by accepting and living the mysteries sufferings that comes to our lives while manifesting God’s reign on earth and for bearing witness to Lord Jesus, just as He was ridiculed, tortured and abandoned for bearing witness to the Heavenly Father. Secondly (2) by the practice of love imitating the ‘Love-King’ who taught us that the most effective way to rule is not power, but love – ruling human hearts. Thirdly, through a spiritual War. This is practiced by defeating sins just like a victorious king defeating enemies. Jesus defeated sin and death through resurrection. Every time we defeat sin in life we become a sharer in Jesus’ kingship. Amen.