(Last Sunday in Ordinary Time - Homily)
There was a kingdom divided into two by a river. All the shrines, temples and worship places were situated in the east coast of the kingdom. The king of the kingdom’s palace was located in the east coast. Whereas in the west coast of the kingdom was mainly covered with hills and forests. One day the king had decided to move his palace together with his staff to the west side. This had made his people curious as to why. They insisted the king to stay on the east because there wasn’t much life in the west side. The king with humble heart expressed, “I have to move to the west side regardless if there is life or not, because there shouldn’t be another lord or king in the same place. This puzzled the people. He explained that here were a lot of shrines and temples in the east and there was already one supreme lord and who is already reigning the kingdom. He was referring to Supreme God, who was ruling the hearts of the people in the east, and he realised he was not above Him. As an earthly king, with humble heart, he decided to move to the west.
On this Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King of Universe, invites us to reflect on the Kingship of Christ and our words and actions must reflect His Kingship and to be rich in our good works. Jesus Christ is our King, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and “He exists before all things and in Him all things hold together,” (Col 1: 17), who rules our hearts and minds.
The Lord Jesus, King of the Universe doesn’t rule His Kingdom through violence and wars. There is no place for violence in His Kingdom but He rules with peace, justice and love. Jesus is different from any earthly king and He doesn’t have any interest in political power but He turned His Kingship into servanthood. We are not called to be kings but to be true “servant leaders” taking the footstep of Christ the King. Jesus “served with a heart of a king but He ruled His people with the heart of a Servant,” one who has His people’s interests above His own.
Jesus Christ, the King of Love, rules over all the earth till today with a heart of forgiveness and mercy, compassion and love in His service. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed Me; sick and you visited Me; in prison and you came to see Me,” (Matt 25: 35-36). In today’s Gospel, we identify Jesus in the poor, the needy, in marginalised, homeless, the lonely, naked, prisoner, etc. Do we identify them as how Jesus does?
The earthly kings, and their kingships and their kingdoms are only for certain periods of time but Jesus’ Kingship and His Kingdom are for ever because He rules with mercy, forgiveness, compassion and love. Hence, every one of us will be judged when we carry out the simple works of mercy accordingly. When we recognised these people with the heart of forgiveness and mercy, compassion and love, we have found Jesus in our lives. We see the face of Jesus when we care for them.
In a few short weeks, we will be celebrating Christmas and as we enter the season of Advent, a season of awaiting for the coming of King, the King of peace, let us open doors of our hearts and welcome, humbly, His majesty and His glory.
Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!
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