Fresh Dew Media

 SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: CHRIST THE KING THAT SERVES AND SAVES

(Luke 23:35-43)

Today is the solemnity of Christ the King of the universe. It brings to an end the Year C of the Church's Liturgical Calendar.

It is a day we cannot afford to keep quiet. It is a day that the universe must make a joyful noise in jubilation. It is a day the sovereignty and supremacy of our Lord Jesus, the king of kings and Lord of Lords, the Ancient of days, the rock of ages, the I am that I am, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,  the Mighty Man in battle, the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient One, the Lamb that was immolated, the Triumphant king of Calvary is manifested.

Today a question is asked: Who is in charge of the universe (Onye bu eze? Onye bu eze nke ebube?

An answer is given: Christ Jesus the Lord.

(Jesus bu eze, O bu Onyenweanyi).

Yes, Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat. He reigns forever and ever.

 

What type of king is Jesus?

 

THE SERVANT KING

In a world where kingship and greatness is taken to be a thing of being highly placed, lording it over, bragging, moving with sirens, knocking down the lowly and being served and bowed down to, guarded right, left and centre by security men, Jesus may not be noticed. The kings of this world will not recognize Him, only the few wise kings all over the world will. Only few wise kings all over the world have come to the knowledge of the fact that all authority comes from God. Only a very few of them are ready to serve the masses instead of their pockets, to pay the workers, to provide the basic amenities in service of their people. Just a few of them. Do we have any of them in the world? Do we have a servant king in Africa? Any in Nigeria? Any in Imo State? Abia etc?

 

Here is the king who said: "I have come to serve and not to be served..." He is the one we are celebrating, and it is right and just to do so. Can we start seeing ourselves more like servants? A lot of mockers will come our way when we take this decision in our today's world just as they did to Jesus years ago. Do this or that if you're a Christian.

Oh, Christian leaders in the various states, you're being challenged daily to do it right following the footsteps of Jesus Christ, but have you all not unfortunately disappointed our Lord Jesus Christ in various capacities from election to expiration of office?

 

THE SAVIOUR KING

Yes, Jesus is the saviour king. He was mocked with the following words: 'If you are the king, save yourself and save us'. The story of today's Gospel is the story of how Jesus died instead of the story of how he exercised worldly power or killed others. This is what it means to be a saviour. He was able to give His subjects life and took their death, that is salvation. He was tempted to save Himself, but remember He had already taught that he who wants to save his life will first of all lose it.

He didn't fall prey to saving His own life. He gave it up for the sake of His brethren. How many of our leaders today care about saving us? Do they save us from poverty? From illiteracy? From backwardness? From corruption? From terrorism? From immorality, from losing our good cultural heritages? From consumerism?

Only a king with insight and foresight can do this. Jesus had the foresight and left His throne in heaven just to do this. We can be co-saviours with Christ.

 

LET'S BE PART OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST

We all are invited to contribute in building a kingdom of justice and love with Christ. Patty Obasi will sing: "O dorom anya na ihe o jiri kpoom, bu kam soro ghuoro ya ala eze ya..."

Where do you belong? Christ's kingdom or the devil's? Who is ruling in the kingdom of your life? Olee ebe ikwu akwu?

As Jesus is promising to make us part of His kingdom today, let us endeavor to say with our words and actions on daily basis:  "Jesus remember me when you come with your kingly power" Let us live and die with and in Him so as to reign with Him in paradise. May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We glorify You Christ our King, and enthrone You in our lives, families, workplaces, offices and over all our troubles. May Your kingly blessings abide with us putting to shame every other authority that wants to reign over us. Save us and deliver us from the grip of bad leaders and evil forces in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Happy Solemnity of Christ the King (34th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh