2 Sam 5:1-3; Ps 121(122); Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
What is Authority?
Dear friends, today is the Solemnity of Christ the King. This solemnity was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, during the sixteenth centenary of the Council of Nicaea. It was at the Council of Nicaea that the doctrine of the consubstantiality of Christ with the Father was defined. The feast was inaugurated at a time when nationalism, secularism, and dictatorship were growing rapidly in the world. This was to remind the people that Christ, whose kingdom is peace and justice alone, has ultimate authority. This solemnity also marks the end of the liturgical year for all three cycles, A, B, and C. Next Sunday will be the first Sunday of Advent, Year A.
During its institution, “the Pope asserted that the most effective defense against the destructive forces of the age is the recognition of the kingship of Christ. “Furthermore, a feast that is celebrated every year by everyone is a far better way of deploying that defense than any number of books written by learned people.” “First, we do; then we come to understand what it is that we are doing.” Today, the number of dictatorial regimes is growing rapidly. Just after COVID-19, conflicts started erupting in different parts of the globe. If you look keenly, you will realize that most of these conflicts are calculated. Greed for power and control of resources is the number one cause of these conflicts. There are those who think that they deserve the world’s resources more than others. Do you feel that you are entitled to more than others?
Those who have been baptized in Christ share in His kingship. Understanding the feast makes us understand our own standing in the Kingdom of God. When Pilate asked Jesus whether He was a king, Jesus responded that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus came to conquer not geographical territories but the hearts of the people. He came to bring good news to the poor, open the eyes of the blind, release prisoners from unjust systems, and set free all those enslaved by man-made traditions. Do you feel that believing in God has set you free in any way?
Many conflicts in the world today are a result of a lack of peace in the hearts of greedy people. When someone wants to control everything, they become hostile to the other forces around them. For example, when King Herod heard that another king was born in Bethlehem, he was deeply troubled. Feeling threatened by this, he immediately began an inquiry to kill the child king. When he realized that the Magi had outwitted him, he turned violent and became a murderer of innocent children. There was a lot of bloodshed and cries all over Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18). Do you normally turn violent in the face of competition?
The first reading talks about the kingship of David, who was anointed by God despite being the least regarded of his father Jesse. Since it is God who created the world and all that is in it, no one can rule in peace unless he is with God. Remember King Soul? He fell because of disobeying God (1 Samuel 13,15). When those in authority disregard divine law, which dictates governance with love, tolerance, and justice, things fall apart. This feast, therefore, teaches us several values: that true authority is service, not domination – Jesus washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-15); that justice must be rooted in truth, not in corruption and deception; that power must protect and promote human dignity and defend the vulnerable; that peace is sustained by just systems; that the common good is more important than personal gain; that leadership must promote hope, not fear among the people; and finally, that all those in authority must be accountable to those under them and to God. Do you think you are a just person in your position?
Life on Earth is limited and perishable. Every human being, including the wealthy and the powerful, dies. God has given life to us on loan, and we must give it back to Him with a profit. In the Gospel passage today, we learn that it is never too late to turn back from our bad ways. The so-called “good thief” used his last breath to ask for mercy and forgiveness, and this earned him eternity in the kingdom of God. However, it is not advisable to wait for that last breath; you may not see it coming. Are you waiting until the last minute to turn to God?
Most injustices in the world are caused by the desire of some people to dominate others. However, we all know that domination lasts only as long as one is strong. Most of the time, we wear out and grow weak because of emitting negative energy. It is said that we expend 200 times more energy to hate than to love. When we love genuinely, we become patient and calm. We take time to reflect on the decisions and actions we are about to make. We make better judgments.
Dear friends, having understood what the feast of today entails, I invite you to reflect on how we execute our mandates in our positions of leadership. What attitude do we wear when dealing with the people we lead and serve?
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD (see also http://www.svdkentan.com)
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 