Living A Purposeful Life

Homily: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (B)

John 18:33-37

24 November 2024 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

When I was young and life was much simpler, I considered a man reclining on pillows on a sunny beach surrounded by beautiful girls feeding him with a bunch of grapes to be an image of what it was like to “live like a king.” Of course, these days, it is much different… The image is bound to include expensive suits, luxury cars, an army of bodyguards, unbridled influence and unimaginable wealth. Do you know anyone who lives like a king or a queen for that matter??

Today, is the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Church did not always celebrate this feast. It was after World War I, when Pope Pius XI declared this a feast through his encyclical “Quas primas” in response to the rise in nationalism and secularism observed in societies.  Perhaps for us, it is an image of Jesus that is the most difficult to identify with since we have only ever had Presidents and we don’t know what it is to be subjects of a king or a queen. Technically we were under the Spanish crown for 333 years, but it was only the Governor General who acted as the Chief Executive of our country. Hence, it cannot be easy for us to relate to a regal and powerful Jesus in a crown and kingly robes. 

What, indeed, does it mean for us to have a king like Our Lord Jesus?  Our readings reinterpret for us the concept of Jesus’ kingship.  In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.”  (John 18:36) Jesus overturns the more common notion of a “king” as associated with honour and glory flowing from one’s position of power and authority.  We can deduce from Jesus’ words that to be “king”, is to be master of one’s own destiny, to know one’s purpose so as to live a meaningful life. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of His Kingship as one that is purposeful — “for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). In obedience to God the Father, His priority is to build up God’s Kingdom in the hearts and minds of the people by His ministry and the integrity of His life.  He does not boast of His might, His heavenly armies nor the riches He possesses. He is a King faithful to His mission to bear witness to the truth even at the cost of His own life. 

In recognising Christ as our King, we automatically acknowledge that “We are not the King of the Universe.” This is something we tend to forget when we think the world revolves around us.  Sometimes, by circumstance or our own hard work, we believe we have the power and authority to make things turn out as we want them to, regardless of how it happens or who gets hurt in the process. Let us just look around us. On our way to church, did we encountered the “kings of the road”? Sorry, SARAO, you are no longer the title-holder! Many of us act as though we are kings and queens of the road when we drive recklessly and without consideration for others. In offices, there are bosses who act high and mighty allowing their position to go to their heads. It is worse when those who act out are simply those who feel like they were bosses. Even in malls and restaurants, faux royals tend to look down on service and sales crew and treat them as if they were slaves. Perhaps in our own homes there are kings and queens as well? We are actually very small and very powerless compared to the grandeur and immensity of the universe and the One who created it.  If Jesus is our King, then He must be our model of authority and leadership that is characterised by gentleness and service.

Most of the useless worries and anxiety we experience in life spring from our desire to be considered great, to be number one, to be special. In the ‘Love Next Door’ series, there is a scene where Seok-ryu advises her younger brother Dong-jin so that he may take things in stride and enjoy life to the fullest. She tells her younger brother… “To be number one…. It’s all pointless. I’ve lived for 13 months longer than you, so I am speaking from experience. Not everyone can be special. Most people just live ordinary lives. And the same goes for me. So, don’t be too obsessed with becoming someone great. Just find what’s valuable to you in your life. That is more than enough.” 

In our lifetime, the Church has also become very sensitive to affording itself undeserved honours. For instance, the Vatican has recently updated the liturgical book regulating the funeral rite for popes, simplifying some of the rituals at Pope Francis’ request. The second edition of the Order of Funerals for Roman Pontiffs revised the version used for the funerals of Pope John Paul II in 2005 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2022. According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the master of papal ceremonies, Pope Francis noted the “need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome may better express the faith of the Church in the risen Christ.”  Archbishop Ravelli added that, “the renewed rite emphasises that the funeral of a Pope is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

In the Book of Revelation, we are told that the Kingship of Jesus comes into fullness at the end of time. It is when He returns that He shall present Himself in His true glory to exercise His Kingship, conquer the final battle and save His people. It is something we look forward to in faith as Christians. As his subjects, we devote our lives to preparing ourselves for His return, by striving to live a purposeful life as Christians. If Jesus Christ is our King, we, as His subjects are also called to fidelity to the truth of His teachings. We are called upon to live it out with compelling conviction in the choices we make and how we relate with others. 

Brothers and sisters. as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we are called not simply to pay homage to our Eternal King but to do as He did, devoting His life to others. May we pursue His self-giving way in our reaching out to others so that God’s reign may come among us.