Nov. 21.Sunday – Christ, the King
... "The Little Prince" - I think there is none here who has not heard about this Title. From childhood, this is well known and loved by us. Children like to play the role of prince and king, princess and queen. World History has witnessed many kings and queens. But we usually associate them with negative stories. They are often known for their luxury and for efforts to save their own life, not the lives of their subjects or their fellow human beings. The image of a king is always connected with powerful deeds.
Today we hear from a very different king. Although he has all the power he uses it not for his own salvation. He is the right king and an example for all kings. This is the central message of today..
Jesus was and is the king of the world. The Jews wanted to make him their king. They have seen his miracles, for example the feeding of 5,000 people etc . They thought that if Jesus is their king, people need not be hungry or thirsty and everything would be all right. But Jesus was not willing for the kingship. When he knew that people wanted him as king, he went away through the crowd. He was not longing for a kingship in the earthly sense. He only wanted to save the poor, the mourners and the hungry.
But Jesus was the King . When asked by Pilate, Jesus declares that he is a king. But he says quite clearly and openly that his kingdom is not of this world (Joh.18.36). “If it were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews” - as we read in John's Gospel (18.36). Here we find a king who makes no effort to save himself. (With the writing, 'This is the king of the Jews, the Jews wanted to mock Jesus.) If a king is attacked and conquered , then usually go away his people permanently and they no longer exist for him.. With Jesus it is different, his group or people became stronger and larger. That's the difference between a king of this world and Jesus.
Kings are not elected. They normally come from a family by way of power through inheritance. Jesus is also one that we don’t choose, rather he chose us. He is our king. To his disciples he said once that he had chosen them and not in the other way.
We are chosen by our King Jesus. Jesus’ Kingship is not to suppress the people, but to love and let live . He has shown us this with his life. He loved all people from the heart. He was not a king, who showed his power before the whole world. He wanted people to lead towards his father.
His way is not that of oppression, but of liberation. Oppression robs freedom from people. In many countries there exists the rule of oppression- we read about it in the newspapers. But those who stand for the freedom of people until death, follows Jesus’ way of Kingship.
... "The Little Prince" - I think there is none here who has not heard about this Title. From childhood, this is well known and loved by us. Children like to play the role of prince and king, princess and queen. World History has witnessed many kings and queens. But we usually associate them with negative stories. They are often known for their luxury and for efforts to save their own life, not the lives of their subjects or their fellow human beings. The image of a king is always connected with powerful deeds.
Today we hear from a very different king. Although he has all the power he uses it not for his own salvation. He is the right king and an example for all kings. This is the central message of today..
Jesus was and is the king of the world. The Jews wanted to make him their king. They have seen his miracles, for example the feeding of 5,000 people etc . They thought that if Jesus is their king, people need not be hungry or thirsty and everything would be all right. But Jesus was not willing for the kingship. When he knew that people wanted him as king, he went away through the crowd. He was not longing for a kingship in the earthly sense. He only wanted to save the poor, the mourners and the hungry.
But Jesus was the King . When asked by Pilate, Jesus declares that he is a king. But he says quite clearly and openly that his kingdom is not of this world (Joh.18.36). “If it were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered to the Jews” - as we read in John's Gospel (18.36). Here we find a king who makes no effort to save himself. (With the writing, 'This is the king of the Jews, the Jews wanted to mock Jesus.) If a king is attacked and conquered , then usually go away his people permanently and they no longer exist for him.. With Jesus it is different, his group or people became stronger and larger. That's the difference between a king of this world and Jesus.
Kings are not elected. They normally come from a family by way of power through inheritance. Jesus is also one that we don’t choose, rather he chose us. He is our king. To his disciples he said once that he had chosen them and not in the other way.
We are chosen by our King Jesus. Jesus’ Kingship is not to suppress the people, but to love and let live . He has shown us this with his life. He loved all people from the heart. He was not a king, who showed his power before the whole world. He wanted people to lead towards his father.
His way is not that of oppression, but of liberation. Oppression robs freedom from people. In many countries there exists the rule of oppression- we read about it in the newspapers. But those who stand for the freedom of people until death, follows Jesus’ way of Kingship.
In today's Gospel we see that Jesus could have helped himself. The soldiers and the thief on the left side have laughed at Jesus: "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" (Lk.23, 37)
Today when we celebrate the day of Christ the King, it is important that we look at the whole world. Let people be under God's Kingdom, where people have the freedom to eat, to speak, to live etc ? We know that many problems exist in the world is because of the misunderstanding/wrong understanding of Rule and Kingship. Many people understand kingship and rule wrong, e.g Terrorism, Communism without faith in God, oppression in countries ruled by soldiers. ... etc. There, the kingship of Jesus is not a role model.
We have a Festival called ‘Onam’ .in Kerala, a state-in South India- There is a legend behind this festival . It is in memory of a king, under whose reign all people were equal and happy.
When we think today of Jesus as our King, let us learn from him. Amen
Today when we celebrate the day of Christ the King, it is important that we look at the whole world. Let people be under God's Kingdom, where people have the freedom to eat, to speak, to live etc ? We know that many problems exist in the world is because of the misunderstanding/wrong understanding of Rule and Kingship. Many people understand kingship and rule wrong, e.g Terrorism, Communism without faith in God, oppression in countries ruled by soldiers. ... etc. There, the kingship of Jesus is not a role model.
We have a Festival called ‘Onam’ .in Kerala, a state-in South India- There is a legend behind this festival . It is in memory of a king, under whose reign all people were equal and happy.
When we think today of Jesus as our King, let us learn from him. Amen
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