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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