CHRIST THE KING, John 18, 33 - 37

CHRIST THE KING

John 18, 33 – 37

Introduction: Our proclamation of the kingship of Jesus is the articulate witness to what is going on within us and in our Christian community, and is also our faithful submission to the reign of Christ. The Kingdom of God, brought to us by Jesus, is the highest value a human being can realise. Our Eucharistic celebration today is a thanksgiving for the gift of the Kingdom, the royal priesthood of the baptised. We pray our Heavenly Father to bless us with his mercy that makes us fit to belong.

THE HOMILY:    St. John paints for us a dramatic scene. The Roman governor confronts a helpless prisoner. But Pilate is in a dilemma. The man before him is accused of claiming to be “King of the Jews,” a title with rebellious overtones. Scourged and bleeding, he is in obvious pain; he doesn’t look like a political hothead. Rather, the overwhelming impression is one of dignity. Despite the nightlong taunts of the soldiers and his scourging that morning, he has a regal majesty. He gives the impression not that this is the story of a man who is to be executed, but one whose last days were a triumphant procession. It does not seem to be Jesus, who is really on trial here, but Pilate and the rest. Jesus, in a position of complete powerlessness, commands the conversation. Pilate is confused, and has to admit he is confronting quite another and unheard of sort of royalty. That title “King of the Jews,” nailed above the prisoner’s head, was intended as an expression of contempt and ridicule. But Jesus has made worldly-minded kings look like fools. Kings have been associated with opulence and reckless appetites. They have been unapproachable, high and mighty, surrounded by sycophants and jesters, decked in finery, and decorated with trimmings of lordliness. Jesus, on the hand, came into the world to witness to the truth -  the truth about God, about people, about life. He will not kill for the truth, he will die for it. He will win, not by spilling others’ blood, but by offering his own. He does not dominate, muster armies, or amass possessions; he just invites, and serves, relying on nothing other than the response of the heart.

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega  -  the beginning and the end, the one who is not up in the sky controlling the world by concealed strings and laser guns, not a gaunt empty figure, distant and removed from human affairs. Rather, Jesus is intertwined with everything we do and think, and with every moment of our being. Like every good teacher and preacher, Jesus preached to himself. He was held to the word by his own sermons. As well as the bridegroom, he is the one who watches for the Kingdom’s coming with unfailing oil in his lamp. As well as the master entrusting his property, he is the servant who risks everything to gain all. As well as the king who passes judgement, he is the one who first lives by his own laws, who sees his Father’s face in the stricken faces of the suffering, and who  loves with an un-mercenary love. In terms of his own homily, he sees humanity hungry and thirsty, estranged and exposed, sick and imprisoned. And he cannot but come to our help. Why ? Because love is his nature, and compassion the divine compulsion. Jesus had to choose daily to be “true to his own name”, to his deepest nature, which is always going out of its way, relinquishing itself in unbridled trust and service. And this is the cause of action that crowns him, as it crowns us all  -  with thorns.  That is the kingly way !

A certain Japanese, Makato Ohoni, member of the Ittoen community (non-Christian) has stated: “Although my Christian uncle had failed to impress me with Christianity in my boyhood, I have since heard about the Gospels and found myself strongly drawn towards Jesus Christ. I feel very close to the breathing of Christ during his last moments on the cross. It stirs me more than many lectures and sermons. I picture him killed on the cross, all alone and surrounded by contemptuous people. Very few, I think appreciate the bliss that he must have experienced when all were against him.” An admirable statement coming from a non-Christian ! Nearer home, listen to our own great Vivekananda who said, “If I see Jesus Christ before me, I shall put my hand into my heart, extract the blood and smear it on his feet.” I personally envy Vivekananda, since he said that before I could.

Jesus and his values must be at the core of our private and public life, our individual and social life, our economic and political life. And that, not by way of sentiment but by principle. We are to demonstrate our royal dignity in all situations of life. We are to show that we are caring persons by the witness of our actions  -  by supporting campaigns of human uplift, participating in critical areas of social and economic development, housing, health care, and education. We want to do it because Jesus wanted it and still does.

This is the Person we come here to salute today on the Feast of Christ the King. Call him anything you want  -  Christ the Sultan, Christ the Pharaoh, Christ the President. It matters not at all. He is what he is  -  the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, transcendent Lord of all by nature and by conquest, the significance and end of our existence. Jesus Christ is the mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.

PRAYER (Dunstan  c. 908 – 988, Archbishop of Canterbury)

O King of Kings, blessed Redeemer; upon those who have been ransomed from the power of death, by your own blood, ever have mercy.

O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son, having no beginning, yet without effort (in the weakness of God) excelling all things, upon this your people in your pity, have mercy.

O sun of righteousness, in all unclouded glory, supreme dispenser of justice, in that great day when you strictly judge all nations, we earnestly beseech you, upon this your people, who here stand before your presence, in your pity, Lord, then have mercy on us.

Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33b-37
A reflection on today's Sacred Scriptures:
Today marks the last Sunday of the Church Year. It is the Feast of Christ the King, celebrating the coming of the Son of Man on the clouds of heaven at the end of time.

Oh! How we welcome these readings this year! They give us hope that, despite the violence, wars, and crimes against humanity of our times, God's justice will prevail at the end. Just when we seem to be heading for cosmic, social, economic, and political disaster, we are reminded that God is still in charge, and that we belong to a kingdom that will never fail us, an eternal kingdom of justice, peace and love.

God speaks to us today through the writings of two great visionaries, the Old Testament prophet, Daniel, and the New Covenant writer, John. Although they are "dream visions," we can confidently believe that they carry God's inspired truth. Daniel wrote at a time of great distress for the Jews under the Greek ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes II. Such visions gave the people courage to endure, just as today's Second Reading about Jesus "coming on the clouds of heaven," encourages us!

In John's time, Christians were already suffering persecution under the Emperor Domitian. As Jesus was with the Father at the creation of the world, so will He be The One to judge all nations at the end of time. He says of Himself in John's vision, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). He is our past, our present, and our future King.

St. John’s words are so very comforting: "To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the power, forever and ever. Amen."

In the Gospel, Jesus boldly affirms to Pilate that He is that Son of Man who will come on the clouds of heaven as a king. In effect, Jesus is saying, "Don't worry, Pilate. I'm not here to take your job, or to dethrone Caesar, for my kingdom is not political but spiritual. It's not on your maps!" When Jesus affirms that His whole purpose is to testify to the truth, Pilate cynically asks, "What is truth?"

If Pilate had waited for an answer, would he have believed it? Would he have dared to act on it? We can ask the same questions about today's world leaders. More to the point, how do we ourselves react to the truth that Christ is the world's universal king to whose rule all must submit before the end of the world?

This, too, is the constant message of our present spokesman for Christ our King, Pope Francis. He urges every nation on this earth to strive for justice for every one of their subjects, and to work always to end war and violence. We are assured that, at the end of time, Christ’s kingdom will rule, and evil will be overcome by His Truth. Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat!

CHRIST KING, Luke 23, 35 - 43

CHRIST KING

 Cycle “C: Luke 23, 35 – 43

 Introduction: Our proclamation of the kingship of Jesus is the articulate witness to what is going on within and in our Christian community, and is our faithful submission to the reign of Christ. The Kingdom of God, brought to us by Jesus, is the highest value a human being can realise.

Our Eucharistic celebration today is a thanksgiving for the gift of the Kingdom, the royal priesthood of the baptised. We pray our Heavenly Father to bless us with his mercy that makes us worthy to belong.

 The Homily: 

Our reading from Luke 23 might seem an odd choice for today’s celebration of Christ our King. How could a description of Jesus’ execution as a common criminal be a suitable example of his kingship?  Yet, paradoxically, it was on the cross that Jesus’ kingship was most clearly revealed. Kingship is a symbol of care and protection, springing from the love of a king for his people. His only thought is the well-being of his people to whom he belongs, constantly thoughtful of them, seeing to their needs, and heeding their petitions. Here we are not talking about a royal family, glamorous and gossiped about, moving graciously through official functions and state occasions. We are treating of a servant king who died naked on the cross. He was prepared to be stripped of his dignity, and let his life drain away from him. The inscription on the cross over his head was meant to make him look ridiculous; it was meant to lampoon his claim to being King of the Jews. But in fact it was entirely accurate; it was on the cross that Jesus was truly King of the Jews. The two criminals crucified on either side of him reacted quite differently to Jesus’ crucifixion.

 Amazingly, one of them asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingly power. Even as he watched him die a shameful death on a cross, he still had the faith to believe in his kingship. His faith is an example for us all.

Such a kingship invites us to question our priorities and ourselves. If we follow him, we will want to live his values. To repeat the lines of that hymn of Isaac Watts, “the sight of the Prince of Glory leads us to pour contempt on all our pride, to repent of our boasting, to sacrifice all the vain things that charm us most.” Under his leadership we can experience the power that overcomes sinful drives, and live with a new joy and peace. This is the kingship of the heart.

To a world that clamours for peace through domination and suppression, discipline from the barrel of a gun or silence by gagging the mouths of the protesters, Our Lord Jesus shows the way by humility and service. Human suffering, for instance, is not an occasion for pessimism but a challenge to action in the belief that the Resurrection is already operating in the dark night of pain and hopelessness. As missionaries and, indeed, as Christians, we realise that we cannot successfully proclaim the Good News from a position of superiority. We can preach the Gospel effectively only when the people to whom we are sent have the power to crucify us. Yes, and there’ll always be people who will ridicule our faith; well, consider the abuse and ridicule of the passers-by and onlookers on the first Good Friday.

But precisely in his moment of greatest weakness Christ King shows his greatest strength. The Letter to the Colossians, though brief, has a wonderful cosmic sweep. In this short, rich letter Christ is shown defeating darkness, holding all things in unity and making it possible for us “to join the saints and with them to inherit the light.” This same Christ crucified is able to overcome all divisions and rescue humankind.

This king had cabinet ministers made up of people from the financial world (Mathew), tradesmen (Peter), immigrants (Luke), and even a member of a terrorist gang (Simon, listed as “the Zealot). Jesus introduced gender balance even before the term was invented. His style was walkabout, making time to be with people who were powerless, voiceless and choice-less. He challenged the religious and spiritual powers. His Manifesto included health care for body, mind and spirit. He would use his Nazareth Manifesto as a checklist -  good news to the poor, sight the blind, wings to jailbirds, debt cancellation programme to introduce the day of Jubilee. The credit card companies would be after his blood.

His communication skills would be second to none. He was master of the sound-bite, with more bite than sound. Jesus would ask the awkward questions. Those of us who are part of the religious establishment  -  ministers and elders  -  would have a rough time playing power games in the name of God. Jesus’ overall aim would be to create a community that would be shaped by God’s way of doing things.

But his popularity would be short-lived. His term of office didn’t go beyond three years: cut short in his prime by a violent death that was manoeuvred by priests and politicians. He died in public disgrace at the hands of the media smear machine. People wanted to make him king. He refused. He was already writing a new script for the notions of king, kingdom and authority. He would not fit the popular mould. He was moulding another way. He would carry a Cross before wearing a Crown.

The American Indians labelled Jesus as “The Little Buffalo Calf of God” because he nourished and sustained their bodies and spirit. An African tribe describes him as “the serpent that moves through the forest without fear.” In the Andes in South America, the people like to picture him as a weeping child removing a thorn from the sole of his foot. His tears help them better to understand how he shares their human condition. The thorn in the foot reminds them of his passion and suffering for their salvation. This is the Christ whom they feel very comfortable with. He is one of their own, and belongs.

Hopefully, he will become one of our own too.

  

PRAYER (Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. c. 908 – 988)

O Lord, O gentle Son of Mary free;

O King of Kings, blessed Redeemer,

upon those who have been ransomed from the power of death,

by your own blood, ever have mercy.

O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son, having no beginning,

yet without effort (in the weakness of God) excelling all things,

upon this your people in your pity, Lord have mercy.

O Son of righteousness, in all unclouded glory,

supreme dispenser of justice,

in that great day when you strictly judge all nations,

we earnestly beseech you, upon this your people, who here stand before your presence, in your pity, Lord, then have mercy on us.

CHRIST THE KING, Mt. 25, 31 - 46

CHRIST THE KING

Mt. 25, 31-46

Introduction:   Our proclamation of the kingship of Jesus is the articulate witness to what is going on within us and in our Christian community, and is our faithful submission to the reign of Christ. The Kingdom of God, brought to us by Jesus, is the highest value a human being can realise.

Our Eucharist celebration today is a thanksgiving for the gift of the Kingdom, the royal priesthood of the baptised. We pray our Heavenly Father to bless us with his mercy that makes us fit to belong.

THE HOMILY

Today’s Gospel is a powerful piece of Scripture.  I’d like to recall that this very passage was proclaimed in the Netaji stadium in Calcutta at the funeral service for Mother Teresa on 13th. September 1997. Mother Teresa used to say that the five fingers of each hand reminded her at the end of each day of the five words which summarises the call of Christ, and that whatever use those hands had been put to in the past few hours  “you...did...it...to...me.”  The call of Jesus to match our lifestyle with faith prompted her to rewrite the Divine Praises. After, “Blessed be Jesus in the Most Sacrament of the Altar,” she added, “Blessed be Jesus in the poorest of the poor.” Whatever Jesus did Mother tried to follow.

            The Gospel makes the point that Christ’s kingship is based not on position, privilege or power but service, love and compassion.....the love that is prepared to lay down even life itself for another.  One day a very ill person was picked up quite routinely from the streets of Calcutta and brought to the Sisters’ house. Mother Teresa happened to be in and she could see that the poor man would be dead in a few hours. What could anyone do for him ?  What did Mother do ? She took out a pair of nail clippers and pared the dying man’s toe nails. Within a few hours it would have made no material difference whether his toe nails were clipped or not. But it would make all the difference for eternity for this man that he was treated humanly, with compassion. That is the kingly way !

            In verse 40 of today’s Gospel, the good  deeds (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, etc.) are not directed at humanity in general but at the least of these my brethren. The term “least” is also used to refer to the disciples; and here’s the vital point: Jesus equates acceptance of his disciples with acceptance of himself. “And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. So “the nations” will be judged based on their response to Jesus as demonstrated by their response to his disciples, not merely as individuals, but as messengers of Jesus.

            The watchword of the kingdom is service. That is why the smallest act of kindness extended to someone for Christ’s sake is of such high value.  On the leaflet of a certain parish there was printed this indictment: “I was hungry, and your formed a humanitarian club and discussed my hunger. I was imprisoned, and you crept off to your chapel and prayed for my release. I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me the spiritual shelter of the love of God.  I was lonely and you left me alone to go and pray for me. You seem so holy, so close to God. But I am still very hungry and cold and lonely.”

Like every good teacher and preacher, Jesus preached to himself. He was held to the word by his own homilies. As well as the bridegroom he is the one who watches for the Kingdom’s coming with unfailing oil in his lamp. As well as the master entrusting his property he is the servant who risks everything to gain all.  As well as the king who passes judgement he is the one who first lives by his own laws, who sees his Father’s face in the stricken faces of the suffering, and who is moved by an un-mercenary love. In terms of his own homily he sees humanity hungry and thirsty, estranged and exposed, sick and imprisoned. And he cannot but come to our help. Why ?  Because love is his nature, compassion the divine compulsion. Jesus had to choose daily to be “true to his own name, to his deepest nature, which is always going out of its way, relinquishing itself in unbridled trust and service. And this is the cause of action which crowns him, as it crowns us all  -  with thorns.

The sheer magnificence of the Teacher is that there are almost as many pictures of him as there are minds to works them up. Africans paint him black, Indians brown, Caucasians white, Orientals olive. And they are all on target, for he is personal property of everyone. A certain unknown author wrote this description of the Master that is popular among college students. Beneath the picture of a macho-looking Christ runs this message: “Jesus, also known as Christ, wanted on charges of sedition, criminal anarchy, vagrancy, and instigating overthrow of established government. Dresses poorly, uses carpentry as cover. Has visionary ideas. Associates with common working people, unemployed, drinks wine. Has variety of aliases: Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Light of the world, Resurrection and Life, etc..Full beard, and scars on his hands and feet as result of injuries inflicted by angry mob led by respectable citizens and local authorities.”  Paradoxically, though, no one is surprised that he remains his own man.

This is the Person we come here to salute today on the feast of Christ the King. Call him anything you want  -  Christ the Sultan, Christ the President, Christ the Pharaoh. It matters not at all. He is what he is  -  the Son of God, the Second Person in the Trinity, transcendent Lord of the universe.  Christ is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved.

PRAYER:  (Charles Kingsley  1819 - 1875):

Lift up our hearts, O Christ, above the false show of things, above laziness and fear, above selfishness and greed, above whim and fashion, up to the everlasting Truth that you are, that so we may live joyfully and freely, in the faith that you are our King and our Judge, and that, so long as we are loyal to you, all will ultimately be well.

WOE TO YOU, BLIND ADVOCATES

BLIND ADVOCATES

 

Matthew 23:23-24  Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (NIVUK)
 

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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages

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Christless religion always tends towards legalism and inconsistency. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for the being blind advocates of heaven. They did not understand God's law and yet they micro-managed the people to give one tenth of all that came into their home. In particular they seized on the herbs and spices which were mentioned in Leviticus 27:30. It was easy to demand ten percent of the herbs grown by the synagogue congregation. But they did not bother to ensure that their social priorities and business ethics pleased God. They had lost God's big picture and could only focus on the little things they could measure.

Jesus was not knocking the principle of tithing, but was distressed that they could not see the purpose of tithing - to provide for the poor. God wants His people to experience justice (1 Samuel 2:3) for He is the ultimate Judge. Mercy and faithfulness are two of the component ideas behind Hesed [Chesed] - that great Hebrew word which describes God's character (often expressed as loving-kindness). It sets the gold standard for His children's behaviour, and was demonstrated in the life of the Lord Jesus.

It is right to tithe and make gifts, and offerings on top of that, but when all that is done God is looking for more. Not a greater quantity of herbs but a different quality of life - where a personal concern for justice has top priority among believers. The widows and orphans should be cared for (James 1:27), the poor, oppressed, bereaved, prisoners and broken-hearted should find God's favour (Isaiah 61:1-3) and those who have no hope hear the gospel (Matthew 11:5).

Some Christians seem only to care about the Word while others are immersed in social action. Jesus said that both are necessary. James said that faith without action is a dead thing (James 2:26). Trusting in Jesus, and learning to live like Him, gives the reason for the action; and kind actions are a natural expression of that belief. It is a trap for modern day believers to select one or the other, for both are essential: otherwise the Bible teachers become blind advocates ... and the social activists are blind guides pointing people to a better life now, forgetting that eternity is the goal for us and the ultimate purpose is for God to get the glory.

Prayer:  All-seeing God. Thank You for the big picture of Your loving kindness which You want Your people to share with the world. Forgive me for the times when I have been obsessed with little things without seeing the purpose for which they are designed. Help me to have a heart like Yours, to do my duty in giving and also to give myself to other people in sacrificial service. In Jesus' Name. Amen.