THE KING AND KINGDOM OF LOVE AND MERCY

 

Today we are celebrating the feast of Christ, the king. The term ‘king’ may look out-dated in our century as countries across the world have renounced monarchical system and embraced elected governments. Thus, it would be most fitting in our times to say Christ, the president or the prime minister rather than the king. However, the term ‘king’ is proper and relevant as long as one needs to comprehend the mysteries of revelation. The purpose of this feast is to realize Jesus Christ as the promised ‘future and eternal king of Israel’ to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12. Jesus’ birth was not like any baby born into this world. His birth had significance. It was not coincidence or just another intervention of God in human history. The birth of Jesus in Joseph’s family closes the monarchical line. He is the last in Davidic line to succeed as King of Israel. As the last person, Jesus is also the eternal king. His predecessors’ kingship in Israel had beginning and end. Their kingship even brought to conclusion at the invasion of Babylon. King David and his successors ruled Israel and also subjugated other people so as to extend their territory. This human kingship had flaws; when someone more powerful than existing king comes his kingship was limited or brought to an end. At the time the system of monarch seemed to be eternal although the king (personnel) is not. In the present century we know that even the system of monarch is not eternal! In this context we have to understand the kingship of Jesus.

In the first and second reading, the recipients of visions see a King whom all creation gives obedience. It is none other than Jesus Himself. He is different from other kings as He is the only one has risen from the dead. The kingship had succession as persons are limited by death. But Jesus surpassed that limitation. There was no possibility for the succession of Jesus’ kingship. He neither fathered son to succeed nor had any father to receive from. He is the only one of this kind. That’s why Christians speak of uniqueness of Jesus’ kingship. God, the Father crowned Jesus ‘the first and eternal king’. Other kings in Israel were only indicator, they showed people what it meant to be king and be in the kingdom.

The nature of kings presupposes defined territory and considerable subjects. On the contrary, Jesus the King has no defined territory. His kingdom is open to all, beyond all cultures, race and tribes. In the gospel, Jesus says to Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here” (Jn 18:36). Yes, the worldly kings sacrifice the lives of others to secure one’s kingship and kingdom whereas, Jesus the eternal King sacrifices Himself to secure the life of the subjects of His kingdom. The subjects of human kingdom give their allegiance and obedience to king through fear and because of their birth in certain kingdom. On the contrary, the subjects of Jesus’ kingdom are people who give their allegiance to Him from their heart. In the Gospel, Jesus presents constitutions and regulation of His kingdom. Whoever accepts them can enter into His kingdom. He never forces anyone to accept His kingship. Subjugating people through force and fear has lacuna of losing subjects of one’s kingdom when someone more powerful than him comes. Subjugating people through love and free will gives stability that the obedience of subject will not be lost. Subjugating people through love and free will also presupposes mercy and forgiveness as there is a possibility of going away from kingdom when confronted with difficulties. Human kingdom does not allow people to return to the kingdom once they go away. ‘Do or die’ is the principle of human kingdom. Sadly, the principle is followed in today’s elected government systems. Keeping all these we would say; Jesus’ kingdom is the perfect kingdom. Because He subjugates people through love and forgives them when they fall away and long to return to His kingdom. His kingdom is of heart. He rules our heats. He made us a ‘kingdom’ rather than making us to enter into any spatio-temporal entity.

On earth, Catholic Church is the kingdom of Jesus Christ, because Catholic Church is the group of members of Jesus’ kingdom. Catholic Church is not restricted to any defined boundaries. Catholic Church exists in all countries in all types of government systems. The members of Catholic Church are people who responded to the Gospel of Jesus from heart, from one’s own free will. The existence of opponents of Catholic Church and others religions authenticate Gospel of Jesus as love and mercy that respects others freedom to be on the other side. Today, we acclaim our King Jesus Christ as King of Kings because He has subjugated us through love and freedom. May the celebration of this feast make us aware of our allegiance to Jesus Christ who has conquered our hearts by respecting our freedom and offering love and mercy. In His kingdom people are united with love and people are renewed by forgiveness. May Jesus Christ, the universal king bless us all!            

               

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