Christ the King

2 Sam 5, 1-3
Col 1, 12-20
Lk 23, 35-43

Chist the King

If there is a prominent title in today’s Gospel, it would be the title “King.” In the Old Testament, particularly in Ancient Israel, someone becomes a king by appointment, election, or succession. A king has a distinct character and is unique in stature (1 Sam 9:2; 1 Sam 16:12). A king has power and dominion over his people. A king is expected to rule the people honorably and lead them in times of battle.

In a deeper sense, a king is seen as an intermediary between Yahweh and the people. He carries out Yahweh’s will for justice. He protects the poor and the vulnerable members of the society. In promoting justice and righteousness in his kingdom, a king mirrors the righteousness and justice evident in Yahweh’s rule over the universe (see Ceresko, pp.153-154). These are the vital and fundamental roles of an ideal king.

From the Ancient Israel down to the time of King Herod the Great, the ideal kingship was hardly attained. Most of the kings abused their power, disobeyed God’s command, and became evil in the Lord’s sight. Such attitude displeased God.

The ideal king emerged in the human history two thousand years ago in the person of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33), but most of the people failed to recognize and acknowledge Him. In today’s Gospel, we heard the rulers and the Roman soldiers reviling Jesus and addressing Him “King of the Jews,” a title which was not used by Jesus throughout His ministry. The title “King of the Jews” was never used by the Jewish people because it entails a negative connotation. The title “King of the Jews” was a title given by the Roman Senate to Herod. Herod was not a real Jew and the Jews did not like him because of his notoriety and cruelty. He was a merciless and unkind leader. He ordered the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem and in some parts of Jerusalem (Matthew 2:16). The title “King of the Jews” accorded to Herod was, in fact, a title of insult and rejection.

Aside from the rulers and soldiers who despised Jesus in today’s Gospel was the good thief who saw something beyond the man burdened with wounds and bruises, the man pierced by big nails, and the man wearing a crown of thorns. The good thief recognized the true identity of Jesus. He repented and he asked for forgiveness for his sins. He was converted when the eyes of his faith had seen and identified Christ.

We, Christians, call Jesus “Christ the King.” Jesus Christ is such a great King who was so simple yet extraordinary. He is the epitome of a True King – one who governs his citizens in the exercise of lawful authority; one who defends his inhabitants in times of danger; one who provides for the needs of his constituents; one who shepherds his flock; and one who understands and accepts the shortcomings of his people.

In the olden times, Jesus had no commanders and soldiers nor chariots and horses for battle, he only had apostles and disciples who walked from town to town to preach the Good News; he never built magnificent temples nor huge palaces, he only built a community of believers, a Church of the faithful; he had no swords, spears, nor bows, only teachings, parables, and words of kindness. In his simplicity and loving mercy, Jesus conquered the world not with armed attacks, violence, and war, but with the act of surrender and obedience, by being humble, through exemplary service, and unconditional love.

Act of surrender and obedience. Jesus submitted himself not to his persecutors, but to the will of the Father. In his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus begged the Father to take the cup away from Him (Matthew 26:39). Jesus knew that was going to die on the cross. Perhaps He was also trembling and afraid during those crucial hours, but He had the courage to say, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without me drinking it, Your will be done (Matthew 26:42)!” Jesus, in today’s Gospel, remained quiet when the people derided him. In his silence, perhaps Jesus was praying, not for God to spare him death, but he was even praying for his persecutors. It could also be that Jesus was savoring the essence of what it is to be the Messiah, the Savior of the World. Jesus, the Ideal King, was obedient to the command of God no matter how painful and difficult it will be.

A humble servant of all. A true king, as mentioned earlier, protects the poor and weak members of the society. He heeds to the essential needs of the people. This is very much evident in Jesus, especially during His ministry, as accounted in the four Gospels. The lepers (Mt 8:3; Mk 1:41-42), the paralytic man (Mk 2:11-12), the blind men (Mt 9:29-30; Mt 20:33-34; Mk 10:52; Jn 9:7), the woman with hemorrhage (Mt 9:22), the man with a withered hand (Mk 3:5), the crippled (Lk 13:13), the adulterous woman (Jn 8: 10-11), and the sick (Mt 8:13; Mk 1:34) had been regarded as the outcasts and marginalized sectors in Jesus’ time. They were alienated from the society and people treated them with mockery and disdain. They were considered “second class citizens” in their own land. Jesus healed the infirmities of these people. By doing so, Jesus brought them back to the mainstream of the society. Jesus lifted them up from the feeling of shame and being ostracized.

A very beautiful image or symbol of a king is a shepherd. In the First Reading, the Lord said to David, “You shall shepherd my people Israel (2 Samuel 5:2).” The people of Israel were entrusted to David. Shepherding requires a great responsibility upon whom the sheep depends for its daily sustenance. To take care of another person’s life is not easy. It demands real love, patience, kindness, and gentleness. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11).” A real king, who carries the symbol of a shepherd, is ready to die for his people. The only king who has attained that ideal standard is Jesus. Jesus came to serve and not to be served.

Whenever we look at the cross, we see the image of Jesus, the crucified Christ. Such is not a symbol of defeat. On the contrary, it is a symbol of victory and kingship so that the mission of Jesus — in proclaiming the kingdom of God, in being a model of servanthood, and in saving all people — is fulfilled and completed. Likewise, the cross also symbolizes humility. For the Jews, to be hanged on the cross was the most shameful thing. Jesus, the crucified king, suffered such humiliation and insult. He humbled himself, but later on, He was exalted.

Talking about humility and service, I remember a story written by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD in one of his books, Moments. It was about Bishop Rillera, former Bishop of the Diocese of Bangued, Abra and now Bishop in La Union. Bishop Rillera, who was then in plain clothes, was cleaning the front yard of his residence. A driver of a priest from a neighboring diocese approached the bishop and asked the latter to help him carry the baggage. Perhaps, the driver knew Bishop Rillera by name but had never met him. Bishop Rillera readily obliged and carried the bags. During meal time, all the guests gathered at the dining area and the man who had earlier carried the baggage arrived and led the prayer before the meal. The driver was stunned. It was a fitting contrast that Bishop Rillera willingly did a menial task which personifies the humble service he had been rendering to the people.

Today, we are not ruled by a human king. We, whatever titles and appellations we append to our names, are the modern-day kings in our own communities, our own institutions, our own families, our peer groups, and our own simple ways of dealing with others. We need not have crowns, scepters, temples, palaces, commanders, soldiers, and other symbols of power and affluence. We do not need those things to be a king. We are simply called to protect and care for our brothers and sisters, particularly the less privileged and marginalized sectors in our society. In serving others, let us first acknowledge our weaknesses and failures before the Lord and ask for healing. The more we allow ourselves to be cleansed, the more we radiate the innate goodness in us.

Jesus, the King of Kings, invites and challenges us everyday — His disciples and believers — to faithfully follow what he has done, that is, to be obedient to the will of God and be a humble servant of all, a servant who is ready to sacrifice and even give up his own life for the sake of others. Let us be reminded of Jesus’ words “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Amen.

references:
A. Ceresko, Intoduction to the Old Testament: A Liberation Perspective (Quezon City: Claretian Publications, 2001).

"Christ the King" in www.divinewordseminary.blogspot.com