Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1 -3; Colossians 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
The Leadership Qualities of a Great King
1. Today is the last Sunday of the year. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of Year (A). At this Mass, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 when depression, secularism, and atheism were on the rise. Most people had turned away from God and were concerned with the world and self. The Pope asserted that the most effective defense against the destructive forces of the age was the recognition of the kingship of Christ.
2. In the first reading, we read how David, a brilliant and far-sighted military and political leader, became the king of both the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel. David was a king after God’s heart (1 Sam. 13:14). God had promised David through Nathan, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm for forever.” (2Samuel 7:16). The Psalmist rejoices over the election of David: “I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.”(Psalm 89:21). Jesus is a descendant of David, and so, He is the promised king whose kingdom will have no end.
3. The second reading seems to draw strength from the first reading. St. Paul made it clear that the whole universe belongs to Christ. The world was created for him. “For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.” (Col. 1:16). The kingship of Christ is unquestionable. “He is the head of the body, the Church, He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.” (Col. 1:18-20). Since the whole world belongs to Christ as the sovereign Lord, how did Christ rule his world as a king? What was his leadership style, and how can we partake in his kingdom? This is how the Preface of this Mass addresses this concern: “As king, he claims dominion over all creation that he may present to You, his almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”
4. Christ gave us the rule of his kingdom in the sermon on Mount. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:1-12). His mission brought a holistic change to humankind. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim, a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4:18).
5. The kings and presidents of this world are protected by the FBI, SSS, bodyguards, soldiers, guns, tanks, and military might. But Jesus had none of those. He did not need them. Christ surrendered himself with twelve unlettered men, who ran away at the slightest provocation. He is the suffering servant of God. “My chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations. Not crying out not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench until he establishes justice on the earth.” (Is. 42:1-4). He rules the world in peace. He is humble, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, and just. His mission is to look for the least, the lost, and the last. He is the shepherd who left the 99 sheep and went to look for the lost one. “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk. 19:10).
6. With Christ as our king, there would be love for everyone. There would be peace in the world. We would be people of prayer, and children would respect their elders. There would be mutual respect for everyone. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (Is. 21:4). We would do away with guns. There will be no police brutality, and corruption will not be mentioned in public. There will be public trust in our social contracts. Corruption and lies in government would be a thing of the past. We would respect our environment and not jeopardize the world by depleting the ozone layers. We would eat healthy meals and be afraid to poison our bodies with opioids or other substances. There would be perfect harmony between human beings and nature, and none would harm the other because the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. (Is. 11:1-9).
7. Christ’s wish for us in the new year is to emulate him. He shows how to live; so that we may live in peace. While dying on the cross, He forgave the repentant thief and promised him everlasting life. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” He prayed for those who killed him on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34). Christ is our king. On the Cross, He gives us everything without counting the cost. May we be open to receiving his gifts of pardon, mercy, and forgiveness. May Christ the universal king welcome us to his kingdom with these reassuring words: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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