HOMILY
FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, YEAR C
Rev.
Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
As the second person of
the Trinity, the eternal son, Christ naturally shares the dominion of God over
all. This is a kingship exercised by Christ in His divine nature. However,
there is also another type of kingship which is a conferred (cf. Luke 22:29:
and I confer upon you a Kingdom, just as my father conferred one on me) and
economical kingship exercised by Christ in His nature as Theanthropos (the God-man). This is the mediatorial kingship of
Christ. This is the official power of Christ to rule all things in heaven and
on earth, for the glory of God, and for the execution of God’s purpose of
salvation (it is here that we encounter
Christ as the king of mercy). It is inside this mediatorial kingship of
Christ that we can comfortably dwell on the regnum
gratiae and the regnum potentiae.
THE
REGNUM GRATIAE (the Kingdom of grace)
Christ rules over the regnum gratiae. This is a rule
established in the hearts and lives of believers. It is a rule that bears
directly to the spiritual end of man –salvation. It is administered not by
force or external means, but by the word and the spirit, which is the spirit of
truth and wisdom, justice and holiness, grace and mercy. This kingship reveals
itself in the gathering of the church, and in its government, protection and
perfection. And because of these, it is a spiritual kingship because of its
relevance to the spiritual realm. It is this kingship for which the Psalmist
prays: Your throne O God will last forever, a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre
of your kingdom (Ps. 43:6; cf. Heb. 1:8, 9). It is of this rule that the
prophet Isaiah says: to us a child is born, to us a son is given. He will be
called wonderful counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father Prince of peace; of
the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end (Isaiah 9:6). And
the Prophet Micah says: But you, Bethlehem Ephratah...out of you will come for
me one of you who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from
ancient times. The Lord will give him the
throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
his kingdom will never end (Luke 1:33).
The
spiritual nature of this kingship is indicated by the fact that Christ is
repeatedly called the head of the Church (cf. Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 2:19).
Head in a figurative sense indicates one clothed with authority. In the Second Reading of today (Col 1:12-20), Christ
is called the head of the body the Church. This is used in its organic conception
(as the chief and most important part of the human body). It is because Christ
is the head of the Church that He can rule it as king in an organic and
spiritual way. He reconciles to himself all things, making peace by the blood of
his cross. He is the king of mercy. A merciful king reconciles and makes peace.
These are the prominent demonstrations of a merciful king; this is what Christ
is. If you believe in Christ kingship of mercy, then you will not get tired of
approaching his throne of mercy as a Christian. So many times, we find it hard
to ask God for forgiveness or to go to the sacrament of confession. We are demoralized
by the fact of a sin that we repeatedly do, even when we have confessed it over
and over again, and have made a firm purpose of amendment. Do not give up, for
you have a king of mercy that is willing to accept you, and cleanse you from
your sins. Come now, let us reason
together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isaiah
1:8).
This
spiritual kingship of Christ has the following characteristics:
· It is grounded in the work of
salvation: the regnum
gratiae originates in the redeeming grace of God. This citizenship of this
kingdom is not automatic; for no one gains membership in virtue of his/her
humanity. Only those who accept the kingship of Christ have that honour and privilege.
Christ paid the ransom for those that are His. Consequently, they now recognize
Him as their Lord and King. This is exactly what happened in the Gospel of
today (Luke 23:35-43). The thief who recognized the innocence and the kingship of
Christ was saved. This is evident in his words: but his man has done nothing...
Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power (Luke 23:41.42). If we
recognize Jesus as our king, his merciful nature overshadows us.
· It is spiritual:
the spiritual nature of this kingship is seen in its all-inclusive character. No
one is excluded. It is clear that the kingdom is not an external and natural
kingdom of the Jews. I say to you that many will come front the east and from
the west, and will take their place at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven (cf. Mtt 8:11.12). It can only be entered by regeneration.
They are the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, the pure
in heart, and those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is in the
hearts of people (cf. Luke 17:21), and a kingdom of truth (Cf. John 18:36-37). Have
you been regenerated? We must, as Christians allow these virtues to be planted
in us by the Church that we may become the sons of the kingdom.
· It is both present and futuristic:
the kingdom eventually consists in the present reign of God in the hearts of
men, but at the glorious coming of Jesus Christ this establishment will be
perfected, and the spiritual rule of Christ will find its consummation in a
visible and majestic reign. Yes, it will be majestic and great signs will
accompany the coming of the Lord. But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed
by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (cf. 2 Pet
3:10-12).
· It is
closely related to the Church: the kingship of Christ is identifiable with
the visible Church. That is why we celebrate Christ as king. He is our king. We
are his people. Heaven and earth are the expanse of his kingdom. Surely, Christ
will never cease to be the head of the Church, leaving the Church as a body
without the head.
THE REGNUM POTENTIAE (the kingdom of dominion)
Christ exercises
dominion over the universe. He providentially and judicially administers all
things in the interest of the Church. He guides the destinies of individuals,
of social groups, and of nations, as to promote the growth, the gradual
purification, and the final perfection of the people which He has redeemed by
His blood. He protects His own against the dangers to which they are exposed,
and vindicates his righteousness by the subjection and destruction of all His
enemies. This kingship supersedes all earthly kings, and is there to humble
them against pride and subjugation of the people they lead. The king of mercy
rules in mercifulness, humility and love. He is there as a proto-typical king
for the human rulers and kings.
The First Reading (2 Samuel 5:1-3) was
explicit on the human lineage of Christ as the king. David was anointed king
over all Israel. His kingdom, great and powerful, became the symbol of the
kingdom of peace and justice that God would one day establish on earth. Hence,
the Davidic kingship became the lineage that extended to the kingship of
Christ. The Davidic kingship was so cherished by God that “the Lord swore an
oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: one of your own descendants
I will place on your throne” (Ps. 132:11).
The dominion kingship
of Christ has the following characteristics:
·
Its power and authority are
non-negotiable: the kingship of Christ stands as the most powerful. Its authority
is binding on all men as Christ forever is the king of the universe. Our belief
or doubt of this kingship does not remove or add anything. Christ is king
irrespective of human acceptance. Pilate unequivocally stated: Jesus of
Nazareth, the king of the Jews (cf. John 19:19).
·
Its dominion over the evils of the
society is clear: David was anointed king after having defeated all his
enemies. Jesus, the son of David and the king of mercy also destroyed
completely the power of Satan in the lives of men. Satan has no power again. There
is now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus, because Christ has
liberated us and given us strong antidotes against evil. By the name of Christ
Jesus, every knee must bend (Philipians 2:10).
·
It is a kingship of one kingdom: this
kingship is one that is all-embracing; bringing all the nations as one. Unlike the
nations of the world that have their different kings, Christ is the king of all
the nations. In this sense, he is above every king; seen and unseen. All things,
in heaven and on earth is under one head, the Christ (cf. Phil 1:10).
It is incumbent on
Christ as the anointed Christ to establish the kingdom of God, to govern it,
and to protect it against all hostile forces. He must do this in a world which
is under the power of sin and is bent on thwarting all spiritual endeavours. If
that world were beyond Him, it might frustrate all His efforts. Therefore, God
invested Him with authority over it, so that He is able to control all powers
and forces and movements in the world, and can thus secure a safe footing for
His people in the world, and protect His own against all the powers of
darkness. These cannot defeat his purposes, but are there to serve them.
Today, we proclaim
Christ as the king of mercy; mercy which has been a term in our mouths since the
beginning of this liturgical year. We must thus proclaim Christ as the king of
mercy. It is in this line that I invite all of us to herald the king of kings
and exclusively call out to him as the KING
OF MERCY. This week, I wish you a great visitation from this king of mercy.
God bless you.
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