Thirty-fourth Sunday of Year C (Christ the King)
Imitating Christ our Universal King
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
§ 2 Sam 5:1-3;
§ Ps 122:1-5;
§ Col 1:12-20
§ Luke 23:35-43
Today we celebrate
the universal kingship of Christ, the Son of David. It is a celebration of the
meaning of true kingship and their roles especially in our today’s world filled
with corrupt and selfish leaders. It is a celebration of true leadership for
the poor and the rich, the needy, those in prison, and those out of prison. We
celebrate unity, humility, care, love, hard work, endurance, compassion, the
good shepherd motifs, universalism of forgiveness, a sense of common good,
prudence, truthfulness, selflessness, faith, hope, patience and trust in God’s
plan of covenant of love( 2 Sam 7) that genuine leadership bears.
The first reading
( 2 Sam 5:1-3) of today reminds us of the unique kinship of David, his family
and human problems, his struggle with Saul, but also the everlasting covenant
God had established with his house( 2 Sam 7). The young handsome David
succeeded Saul as the king of Israel, since Saul had disobeyed God, and had
broken the ban (1 Sam 15). David rose and consolidated power in central place
of Jerusalem, with a sense of universalism, unity, togetherness and divine
promise. We are told, “In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in
Hebron and said, ‘here we are, your bone and your flesh…. And when all the
elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with
them there before the Lord, and they anointed him king of all Israel.”
In spite of his
personal challenges (Bathsheba incidence and Uriah’s death, incest in his
family, rebellious son like Absalom, conducting a Census when not necessary etc) David was never
a king for some elders, some few tribes or for some parts of Israel, but the
King for all Israel. He was a king for everyone, a theme that is resolutely
developed in 1 &2 Chronicles. This separates David from several other
divisive and idolatrous kings of Israel, we have come to learn from the
passages of the Scriptures.
David did so
well and stood out among others that generations of prophets (Amos, Hosea, and
Isaiah etc) would yearn for another David. Late historical books and midrashim
like the Book of Ruth would present the worthy Ruth as the great, great grand
mother of Jesus (Matt 1:5), the “Son of David.”
In his ministry
down to his passion on the Cross, this Son of David, Christ, ruled and ministered
with patient, compassion, prudence, love and kindness. He led by examples.
Ironically, both Pilate and those who prosecuted Jesus proclaimed him the king
of the Jews and of the Gentiles by their ironical interrogations and the
inscription they placed on Jesus cross in several languages “This is the King
of the Jews.” Even the criminal on the cross was moved to recognize the
universal kingship of cross, when he said, “Jesus remember me in your kingdom”
(Luke 23:35-43//John 18:33-37).
Paul in the Second
reading re-emphasized this kingdom of redemption and forgiveness of sins when
he says " God has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred
us to the kingdom of his beloved son… for in him all the fullness was pleased
to dwell, and through him reconcile all things to him, making peace by the
blood of his cross, through him, whether those on earth or those in
heaven" (Col 1:12-20).
For those of us on
earth living in nations, families and institutions of ironies, the challenges
grow every day. They are enormous. The challenges for our elected,
ecclesiastical and biological leaders (at all levels) to lead
selflessly, with peace, patience, integrity, humility, transparency, care,
love, hard work, endurance, compassion, sense of universalism and shared common
good, harmony, exercise of administrative prudence, truthfulness,
selflessness, faith, hope, patience, availability to our subjects, and trust in
God’s plan that we saw in David and in Christ Jesus.
Reflection
Questions
1.
What is our understanding of today’ liturgy and readings?
2.
Do we see Christ as non-worldly king, who came to heal,
and save us?
3.
Do we pray for our civil leaders that they may imitate
Christ- the King and lead with integrity?
