Saturday, November 19, 2022

“KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”

Meditation for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Year C
(2 Sam 5:1-3; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43)

Let us meditate on the mystery of Jesus Christ the Universal King. This celebration marks the end of the Liturgical Year. The royal priesthood of Christ is prefigured in the kingship of David as we read in the first reading. The people pledged their loyalty to David at Hebron. He made a covenant with them and they anointed him king over Israel. The anointing of David became a pointer to Jesus, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Cf. Lk 4:18; Acts 10:38). Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, became the Lord of David, the greatest King of Israel (cf. Mt 22:41-46). So, Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords (cf. Deut 10:17; Ps 136:3; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14). “And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS’” (Rev 19:16).

 

His rulership and sovereignty are eternal. He says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). Jesus resisted the temptation to be recognized as king according to human needs (cf. Jn 6:15). He said to Pilate, “Mine is not a kingdom of this world” (Jn 18:36). So, the Kingship of Jesus is unique and different from the rulership of the world; His model of rulership is a challenge to human authorities. The kingship of Jesus was mostly revealed during His passion and Cross, instead of the moments of his manifestation of power and authority during his preaching and performing of miracles.

 

The Gospel of today narrates how the rulers scoffed at Jesus, and the soldiers mocked Him, saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” It is typical of earthly kings and rulers to take care of themselves, ensuring their own security and comfort before taking care of their subjects. But here is Jesus hanging on the Cross, with an inscription over Him, saying, “This is the King of the Jews.” He is the king, whose crown was made of thorns, His thrown was the Cross. His ‘royal garment’ was taken away from Him, and He was stripped of all that he had. Jesus is the king, who was rejected by His kinsmen (Jn 1:11), and betrayed by His followers. He is the King, who lays His life for His followers. While earthly rulers pass judgement and condemnation on their people, Jesus says, “I have come not to judge the world, but to save the world” (Jn 12:47). He desires that we all reign with Him in His Kingdom, for He said to one of the criminals crucified beside him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

 

In our celebration today, we echo the words of St. Paul in the second reading, thanking God for qualifying us to share ‘in the inheritance of the saints in light.’ Through the passion of Jesus, God delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The doors of the kingdom of Jesus are open to us all so that we can enter in through the ‘way of the Cross.’ Christ’s faithful are transferred from the kingdom of darkness and earthly kingdom to the Kingdom of Jesus. In this kingdom, Jesus reigns that we might reign with Him. “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, for in Him all things were created…” In His kingdom, we are all enrolled as ‘Firstborn sons and citizens of heaven’ (Heb 12:23), we become ‘co-heirs’ with Christ’ (Rm 8:17), which makes us ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood’ (1 Pet 2:9).

 

It becomes obvious that those who wish to reign with Him must hold Him as pre-eminent in everything. That means Jesus must have the greatest influence in their lives. They will not surrender to any other power or authority, whether visible or invisible. In Christ Jesus we live as children of the Kingdom, “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.” Thus, Jesus the universal King becomes the center of our lives. All our thoughts, words and actions ought to be inspired by the righteousness of Jesus and for His glory, “Since it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

 

Therefore, we gather before Jesus, as the Israelites gathered before David at Hebron, to acknowledge Him as our King. As Kingdom-children, who are called to reign with Him, our ways of rulership and exercise of authority must be modeled after Jesus. We must put away greed, pride and arrogance that is common among earthly leaders. ‘The way of the Cross’ is the way we reign and exercise authority. This is how we confront and overcome the worldly ways of rulership, and make way for the peace and love of Jesus to reign in our hearts and in our society. Amen.

 


Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday November 20th, 2022.

Solemnity of Christ the King

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

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