CHRIST THE KING John 18

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 !

Jesus’ kingdom envisages some new values:

the foreign policy: to open up the national boundaries to the gentiles and outcasts;

the economic policy: fundamental option for the poor;

the home policy: to accept and forgive criminals, and serve the citizens even by washing their feet;

the defence policy: to destroy enemies by making them friends even unto sacrificing one’s life.

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.