Homily on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Jesus: The King With A Difference

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, November 22, 2015

As we come to the end of the Church’s Liturgical Calendar, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. We celebrate Jesus as the Shepherd of our souls and the King of our lives. Many of us may not be able to connect or relate with the idea or image of a King. Some of us may even resent or reject the idea or image of king or kingship because of the ugly stories we have heard or read about many kings of past centuries. Some kings were brutal. Some were repressive and authoritarian. Some were extremely wayward. Their insatiable appetite for women was impossible to satisfy. Some of them were deeply immoral, power-drunk, control-freak and blood-thirsty. The shedding of the blood of innocents was something they glory and boast about. But Jesus is not such a king. He’s not like any king that has ever existed or would exist. His kingship is different. It is rooted in simplicity, humility, compassion, love, selfless service and sacrifice. 

In today's Gospel taken from John 18:33b-37, political power represented by Pilate met spiritual power, represented by Jesus. Pilate was troubled and nervous about the true identity of Jesus. He was not sure who he was, so he asked him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Rather than answer yes or no to his question, Jesus turned his attention to another Kingdom not earthly, not made by human hands, not protected and made secured by a large number of armies and a stockpile of arsenal: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”  Pilate may have been frustrated for not getting a direct answer from Jesus; but what Jesus told him was the truth. In fact, he did tell Pilate that the reason why he was born into the world was “to testify to the truth.” 

But why did Jesus refuse to answer a straightforward question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Why did he refuse to accept Pilate’s declaration, “Then you are a king?” My personal reflection gives me four probable answers: One, may be he did not want to be lumped together with earthly kings who were generally known to be deeply corrupt, morally bankrupt, brutally wicked, unbelievably greedy, unspeakably inconsiderate and mean, insatiably power-drunk, unreasonably feared for the wrong reasons. Jesus was not like any earthly king; even the best of them cannot be compared to him. He was someone that “People were amazed that he has done all things well” (Mark 7:37). Jesus was also anointed by Holy Spirit “And he went about doing good and healing all those who were under the power of the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38) Two, calling him the King of the Jews would geographically limit the length and breadth of his kingship. Jesus is not only the King of the Jews, he is also “the King of Kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16) including Pilate and the King of the whole world. Third, his kingship is of service not lordship in an authoritarian manner: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). His kingship is of love, not power; mercy, not punishment; compassion, not compulsion to flex power, might and authority; justice for all, not justice for some. Jesus’ kingship is of healing, not injury; making life better, meaningful and purposeful, not worsening it: “I have come that you may have life, life in abundance” (John 10:10). His kingship is about powerlessness, which is a new kind of power. It’s about winning our hearts, not overpowering it. Four, Jesus wants each of us, on our own, but with the grace he gives, to come to the knowledge and realization of his kingship as Pilate did: “Seek you first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33) 

Sisters and brothers, if the kingdom of the Lord is not of this world, the attitude of his disciples towards this world should be that of detachment, not attachment. This world, as we know it is passing away. Our earthly citizenship is not a permanent one. In fact, no one is a permanent resident of this world and no one has a permanent residence of this world. What each of us has is a visa that will expire at a certain date. When it expires, we depart. Our permanent residence is in the “Kingdom (which) does not belong to this world.” To qualify for it, we must daily follow Jesus who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Jesus is the Way to God and the Way to the Kingdom. He is the Truth, and he came to testify to the Truth. He is the Life. He is our life when earthly life is gone. Since the Lord’s Kingdom and our permanent residence does not belong to this world, we should loosen our firm grip of this world. Never kill or harm or hurt anyone because of worldly things. Do not love material things more than spiritual things. Strive daily to store and accumulate more treasures and assets in heaven. In the Gospel of Matthew 6:20, Jesus tells his followers, "Store up your treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” The destiny of a child in the womb is the earth; but the earth is not the final destiny. The final destiny is the Kingdom where Jesus’ reign as King will be fully realized.