Celebrating with Christ, the Eternal King of Power and Weakness

 Solemnity of Christ the King: November 21, 2021

Readings: Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93:1-2,5; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37

(Jesus King of the Universe, Abside Santa Maria Trastevere, Rome)

To listen to my video reflections please click here

We are often questioned about our sense of temporality and eternity, power and weakness. The feast of Christ the King that we celebrate says everything about what it means to us to have a King sent by God who was not of this world but came for us mortals in order to take us to eternity. In other words, it is Jesus to whom we have to admire and imitate. That must be the reason why this feast of Christ the King is so dear and popular among us.  

1. The power of God differs from human power

Christ is the centre of our Christian existence. Because Jesus is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6). He is the greatest truth revealed to us. Otherwise, we would not have remained Christians. Moreover, in Christ Jesus, we are revealed ever more boldly the person of God and eternity, all His power and glory. As followers of eternity, Christ invites us to give witness to the truth. The truth that Jesus speaks to us is different from human truth. In God's truth everything is revealed and clear. Everyone has a place in His eternity and mercy. In the words of A. W. Tozer "God’s words are not for me to edit and tinker with, but to believe and obey.

The question of Pilate in today's reading: "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) is an answer for those who question why we are still Christians. The answer of Jesus is certainly captivating the attention of those who can analyse it: "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice" (John 18:37). In the wake of antichristian propaganda in India and many parts of the world including in the so-called liberal Christian world, the answer of Jesus to Pilate must strengthen us to be courageous witnesses of His Gospel. In fact, the kind of life that we live or the kind of faith that we carry with us or the things that we do is because we are the followers of Christ. The Danish Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard put it so boldly, “The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”

2. All for the greater glory of God 

This week I read two books on the history of the Society of Jesus, namely "Passion and Glory: A Flesh & Blood History of the Society of Jesus" volume II and III written by Ignaico Echaniz. If volume II deals with the golden age of the Jesuits because of the number of martyrs, Blessed and Saints it produced, while volume III speaks about the prominent preachers of the Society as well as the period of the suppression of the Jesuits world over which culminated finally in 1773 the infamous papal bull on the suppression of the Jesuit Order. It's really a fascinating story of those young Christians from across the globe who gave themselves up totally to be formed in the spirit of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola and be planted in different and difficult parts of the world. All the more it is the capacity of those young Jesuits because most of them died very young in the mission lands doing all sorts of experiments with the sole purpose of bringing the natives to Christ. Delightfully they invented and devised new preaching methods of the Gospel by incorporating various indigenous methods including the so-called Malabar rite, Chinese rite and Jesuit Reductions in South America, etc, are all purely to preach goodnews of our Lord and give witness to what they believed in.

The truth is very clear. Once you believe in something that such a vocation is from God no powers of this world can stop you from doing what you are convinced of. Every young Jesuit who took the long and difficult sea voyages had always before him Christ as his Eternal King and not any other European or local king as their head. The Eternal King (Kingdom Exercise and Two Standards) whom they contemplated while doing the Spiritual Exercises becomes the real ideal and hero even in actual and practical life. Persons like Matteo Ricci (in China), Roberto de Nobili, John de Britto or Constantine Beschi (in India) took months and months of sea voyage to reach China and India. The only thing that they might have seen in those arduous and exhausting journeys along with the stars of the night, the Christ crucified. Perhaps when their little ships tossed by raging waters and frivolous storms, only the Christ the King must have been their focus. Leaving behind their wealthy and prosperous families with absolutely no idea whether they would reach the destination or whether they would return home, these peace warriors of Christ looked only Him, who called them to follow. 

3. Reign of truth versus reign of darkness

The Solemnity of the Feast of Christ the King is a feast that symbolizes our unique place in the reign of God. This uniqueness of being part of the life of God has to be celebrated by our life of dedication and service. There is nothing that should stop us from accepting God as God. Our whole existence as temporary residents on this earth has a meaning only when we accept God as ruler and restorer of our life. It is He who creates, forms, guides and bestows us with every blessing and grace. God keeps his promises from David to Jesus His Son in establishing an everlasting kingdom. In Jesus, God is glorified to give a witness of truth, justice and peace. That is why, St John the Evangelist writes so vividly in Jesus' discoure with a Samaritan woman "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).  

Often we hear like Pilate, concentrating only on temporal things and all that temporal authority gives and makes us. The Psalm cries 'declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity"' (Psalm 96:10). "Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made" (John1:3). St Paul puts it so beautifully in his letter to the Colossians, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16–17). That is the truth we believe as Christians.  

4. Jesus as King liberates us

In St John's Gospel, the discourse of Jesus confirms what we have been trying to strengthen the argument on the identity of Jesus. From the mouth of Jesus, we hear once again those bold words to his disciples, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Christ is King and His kingdom, while not of this world, exists in this world in the Church and when we celebrate him amongst us.  Becasue Jesus established a kingship of service, self-giving and self-sacrifice, all the more built upon love, truth, kindness and justice. The Son of Man came into this world to testify to the truth. Therefore we need to listen to his voice. Being truthful to his voice means carrying forward his message of love. As we reflected on last Sunday that we must love God above all others and love our neighbour as well. Jesus is the merciful face of the Father.  On truth, upon which love is built, and without truth, there is no honest relationship and it cannot do service here on earth or in heaven. 

The identity of Jesus as King who liberates us from damnation and sin is also the identity of every Christian. We are his royal, priestly and prophetic people. Therefore, as priestly people, we share in His sacrifice and in His witness to God’s everlasting covenant. We belong to His truth and listen to His voice, waiting for Him to come again in glory. As citizens of Christ's Kingdom of truth, justice and peace, each one of us are called to follow him by testifying to the truth.  In doing so, we may be more open ready to accept God's, unconditional love.  Thus our life becomes truly faith-filled lives ever ready to follow the Lord who was powerful but became weak because he wanted to make us strong in God forever.   

Questions for Reflections

1. What’s the truth Jesus comes to bear witness to in this last Gospel of the Church’s year?

2. So, why did Jesus respond to Pilate’s inquiry the way he did and emphasize the importance of honesty?

3. Jesus came as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Do we belong to the truth and listen to Jesus to inform our actions?

4. As you reflect on this scene, what images of Jesus do you have in you? Servant, friend, healer, crucified saviour, risen Lord; is Jesus the King one of them?

5. How do you react when things are out of your control?

Prayer:

Oh gracious God, who has promised us an eternal life of peace and joy within your Kingdom, let me remember, today and always, how fleeting are the problems and pleasures of this life. The earth and its nations will pass away, soon enough. My bank account, my fame and prestige before others, my accomplishments and failures, even my very body, will not belong to me one day soon. May the Passion of Christ be ever in my heart. May your law and your goodness guide my every thought, O Lord. And may the power of your Holy Spirit flow through my words and my actions today, and always.

Loving God, may your truth permeate our beings. May we take part in building your kingdom, a kingdom where love reigns. May we listen to you, walk with you and talk to others about you, telling them your truth sets us free. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

19 November 2021