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Tag: Christ the King

  • Again OR Anew

    Again OR Anew

    November 21, 2021 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112121.cfm)

    “If & when given another chance, would you do it again or anew? Would you do it as before or better than before?”

    2014, before going to Korea to minister our Filipino Migrants & workers, I was assigned as a parish priest in our big Redemptorist parish found at the very heart of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Philippines. However, amidst the busyness and burdens of my responsibilities then, I was more drawn to the challenging life-question: “At this stage of your life, if and when given another chance by the Lord, would you do it again or anew? – would you do it as before or better as before?” These questions challenged me to review (to look again) my life as it, to think outside the box and out of my comfort zone, and to openly consider once again another vocation God is challenging me to be at midway of my life. While I responsively considered “a life not again but anew, and a life not as before but better than before”, eventually I found myself in Gwangju Korea, serving God and the Church as Redemptorist missionary in an entirely unique culture, working with new set of people, both fellow Filipinos and foreigners, doing migrant ministry, which specifically distinct from what I was used to do in parish work. Because of this and since then, my life is never the same again. Never I could imagine then to live my life in Korea for five years then because I reconsidered a life anew and better than before with our Lord. Difficult it may be but surely my life has been more fruitful, enriching and blessed than as before.

    Sharing you my life-experience somehow give and offer you a glimpse of the spirit and meaning of our celebration today of the Solemnity of the Kingship of Christ.

    Today on the Solemnity of Christ the King, we celebrate the reign of Jesus Christ in our Christian life. We, the whole Christian world proclaim and witness today to Christ’s leadership and sovereignty in our Christian lives. Jesus Christ our King is our Way, Truth and Life who is our leader, guide, and force in faith & life as it was, as it is, and as will always be. Also, today on the Solemnity of Christ the King marks the end of our liturgical year. For the past year of Christian worship, we have followed and journeyed with the Lord in our life as we praise, believe, proclaim, serve, love, and live our faith in God with Jesus. Our recent past year with the Lord amidst pandemic does have its own challenges, difficulties, sufferings as well as blessings, growth, and opportunities.

    As we bid farewell to liturgical year B (reflecting mostly on the Jesus story as told to us through the gospel of St. Mark), better also for us to review our life with the Lord this past year, and be more open to consider another and a new chance to journey in faith with our Lord. Perhaps also consider the question: “At this stage of your life, if and when given another chance by the Lord, would you do it again or anew? Would you do it as before or better as before?” – “Sa buhay ko ngayon, kung at pag-binigyan ng muling pagkakataon ng Panginoon, gagawin ko bang muli o panibago ang aking buhay? Gagawin ko ba gaya ng dati o mas Mabuti pa ang aking buhay?”

    https://reasonabletheology.org/jesus-christ-our-king/

    These questions take into account two important considerations: the role of Jesus in our life and our choice to follow and journey with Him in our life always. On one hand, these challenges give importance to the role of Jesus in our life. The life that we have and live now is a life of chances and opportunities God has given and shared us. In simple words, our life is a gift from God – not made, built, and programmed by us. Now, consider how we live our life now. Do we recognize, believe, and worship our life-giver and life-sharer God who gives us the chance to live our life now? Does Jesus have a part, a role in our daily lives? Or rather, we recognize, believe and worship only ourselves &/or our life now with others than God? So, in humility, healthy for us to reconsider our life as “If and when given another chance by the Lord” for we don’t really know how this God-given life could and will be.

    On the other hand, these challenges give importance to our choice to follow and journey with Jesus in our life always. As we consider our life as God-given chances and opportunities, we should also have to make a choice and commitment to live, lead and journey our lives in accordance and in faith with our Lord Jesus Christ.  Here we are to live our lives as Christians disciples – following and journeying with Lord in life creatively. Being Christian is our choice of lifestyle – our way of being & living our life as human in the world, and participating in God’s recreation of our world. Living our life as Christian then gives meaning, spirit, and direction to live our God-given life anew and better than before, as well as fully reveals to us the leadership and sovereignty of the Lord’s kingship through our lives to the world.

    Our gospel reminds us our Lord Jesus Christ is a rejected and persecuted King and Leader. His kingship then is not based on his command and authority with us His disciples, but on our choice to follow and journey with Him in life – living our life with Him. More than honor, praise, prestige due for Him as our Lord and King, Jesus desires our companionship, participation, and commitment to be and live with Him in our journey of life. Ask not the Lord like Pontius Pilate: “Are you the King?” but rather “Is Jesus my King?” Rather than probing on His kingship, anew and better then recognize, believe, choose, and live our lives with Jesus as our Way, Truth and Life in our world.

    Again, as we say Goodbye to Year B and say hello to another chance, but a new year of living with and in the Lord’s kingship, healthy for us to reconsider this question: ““At this stage of your life, if and when given another chance by the Lord, would you do it again or anew? Would you do it as before or better as before?”

  • King for us & with us.

    King for us & with us.

    November 22, 2020 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm)

    Homily

    If you google the word: “Cristo Roto or Broken Christ” in the net, you will be led into a place in Aguascalientes, Mexico where there stood a massive 25 meters bronze statue of Christ above the city dam. Considered to be the 10th largest statue of Jesus in the world, what makes it special is that it is broken. An image of Crucified Jesus stand suspended without a cross, with a missing right arm and a snapped off leg. It was based on the story told about Fr. Ramon Cue who found a broken and desecrated crucifix in an antique shop, and bought it in view of restoring it for his parish. Once home however while in prayer before the broken Christ, Christ himself pleads to the priest that it to be left broken & not restored, so that it could stir in the priest & in his parishioners the need to both ‘see’ & ‘serve’ the broken Christ’s in their midst. Known now as Santuario del Cristo Roto (Santuary of the Broken Christ), the massive Broken Christ statue is a famous religious pilgrim and devotion site, and a popular stop for Mexican migrants crossing the US, where faithful considered it as a savior of the lost causes.

    Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Consider the image of Christ the King. Usually the image shows us all the symbol & promptings of honor and glory depicted proper & usual for a king (crown, thrown, orb, scepter & robe). But notice, what is most peculiar in the usual image of Cristo Rey are His exposed swelling inflamed heart & His barefoot. These peculiarities somehow highlight the distinction of Christ’s kingship from the usual human kings. Barefooted-king symbolizes Christ as a humble Shepherd king who is on-the-go, in-touch, and grounded in His people’s lives. Exposed swelling inflamed heart symbolizes Christ as the loving Lord King who is hands-on, feel with, empathizing, all-out, compassionate & merciful to us His people. Above all, both His open heart & exposed feet are reminders that our Lord & King Jesus Christ is a Broken, Suffered, Wounded yet Victorious & Glorious Servant King-Shepherd who still needs & longs for our praise & loving service with Him in our Father’s kingdom. A glorious King, indeed yet remains a broken Christ so that we may see & serve Him in our midst, in our day to day lives & thus, continue His work & contact-presence with us in life. A forever kingly yet still broken Christ in our midst.

    The kingship of Christ reminds us that, FOR US, God is our Shepherd king. For our sake, He choose to be our Shepherd King. Through our readings today, we recognize that like a good shepherd, Yahweh HIMSELF tends us His flock: a hands-on God-king who look after, tend, rescue, pasture, give rest, seek, bring back and heal us His people for the sake of  our salvation, fulfilled fully  (no more, no less) through the witness & shepherding of our Lord Jesus Christ. And on the day of Reckoning, Jesus will account & segregate the worthy from the unworthy (sheep among the goats) of eternal life with our Father.

    And the kingship of Christ reminds us as well that ALONG WITH US, God is our family or rather we are His family & His son Jesus is our brother who is mostly with the least of our family. In our gospel today, both the worthy & unworthy ask the Lord “When did we see you…?” His response is Ubi Caritas: loving service to others – “whatsoever you do to the least, that you do unto me”. In other word, Jesus is the “me in the least of our brothers/our family” – the broken Christ in our midst who needs our loving service. And how we treat Him in the least of us is the standard measurement of us to be worthy or unworthy of being & living with Yahweh, our Father.

    Christ’s kingship is thus expressed at its best & should be seen and served as our Lord Jesus, the Shepherd King FOR us, and the broken Christ WITH US, especially in the least of us in our midst.

    The solemnity of Christ the King marks the end of our liturgical year. Like in the airport’s pre-departure area, as we bid farewell to the pandemic year that has been & a prepare for the next year’s promise & challenges in our spiritual travel-journey, perhaps we ask ourselves:

    • How have I experienced God’s shepherding in my life this year? In what ways Jesus have tended, rescued, pastured, protected & healed me this year? How the Lord Jesus is for me & with me this year?
    • How did I participate & contribute in His shepherding of me & us all? What have I have done for Him? How have I been with Him, an obedient & faithful sheep OR a dumb-ass & hard-headed goat? What have I done to the least of my brothers? Have I been His frontliners who do something for those who are need at this time OR have I been a KAREN, a proud entitled jerk who complains a lot & carelessly put others lives at risk for undermining protocols & breaking guidelines? Have I recognized, “see & serve” Him in my life & in our midst?

    As we have a closer look of our life & mission as His flock & people, reimagine our being & living with God, and make some resolutions to do better in life & faith anew, may the lyrics of songs below inspire & guide us to be worthy of Our Christ the King in our midst. Amen.

    I MAY NEVER PASS THIS WAY AGAIN (Perry Como (1958))

    I’ll give my hand to those who cannot see, 
    The sunshine or the fallin’ rain.

    I’ll sing my song to cheer the weary along, 
    For I may never pass this way again!

    I’ll share my faith with every troubled heart, So I shall not have lived in vain.

    I’ll give my hand, I’ll sing my song, 
    I’ll share my faith, because I know, 
    That the time is now to fulfill each vow, 
    For I may never pass this way again!

    PAG-AALAY NG PUSO (Nemy Que, SJ)

    Minsan lamang ako daraan sa daigdig na ito.
    Kaya anuman ang mabuting maa’ring gawin ko ngayon.  O anumang kabutihan ang maari kong ipadama? Itulot ninyong magawa ko ngayon ang mga bagay na ‘to.

    Nawa’y h’wag ko ‘tong ipagliban o ipagwalang-bahala,
    Sapagkat ‘di na ‘ko muling daraan sa ganitong mga landas

  • A King Among Us, Broken and Wounded

    A King Among Us, Broken and Wounded

    November 22, 2020 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm)

    Homily

    How would you imagine a king? Being influenced by fairy tales, anime and movies, I would imagine a king who wears a golden crown, covered in a golden robe, sitting on a golden throne and living in a golden palace. A king is a powerful man who has thousands of armies, who conquered many nations and defeated countless enemies through bloody wars. He is untouchable – commoners, slaves and servants cannot talk to him directly. His throne is too far from the ordinary people.

    This is not far from how we imagine Jesus Christ our King. Influenced by the western culture we also imagine Christ the king who wears a golden crown, wrapped in a golden robe and sits on a golden throne. This image for me, seems to be a very distant king. A king who does not know the daily affairs of his people. A king who merely shows greatness, triumph and wealth.

    However, our readings today portray a different image of Christ the King. There was no mention of wealth, no gold and silver, no armies and weapons. Let us closely look the readings today.

    The first reading from the Book of Prophet Ezekiel has a very interesting background. The political and religious leaders who were supposed to guide and care for the people became irresponsible. They became corrupt and abusive. They were chosen by God to lead his people and uphold justice and promote peace. However, they turned into men who only hungered for power and wealth. The poor were exploited and the needy were abandoned. Hence, God became so upset with what they had done to the people. And so, God promised that he will be the one to personally care for his people as a Good Shepherd would do to his sheep.

    This gives us the image of a God who builds personal connection or relationship with his people. God searches for us when we are lost. God gives us rest and brings us to a safe and abundant place. He looks after us because each of us is so dear to Him.

    This promise of a faithful God gives us the assurance that God indeed is there for us all the time. For this reason, our psalm captured beautifully the feeling of being taken cared by God Himself – “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Yes, this is an attitude of a person who has become confident in God’s promise. Indeed, in God everything shall be fine, in him, all shall be well.

    This is what St. Paul has told us in his letter to the Corinthians “that God is everything to each of us.” It only means that God is there for us and accompanies us in our brokenness and difficulties. Yes, this Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe reminds us now that our King, our God is not far from us. He is not sitting on a golden throne or wrapped in a golden robe or guarded by a concrete golden palace or protected by security agents and royal guards. Our King is here with us, walking with us in our brokenness and woundedness. Our King has even identified himself to be among us and one of us, wounded and broken.

    The Gospel tells us about this. The King in the parable identifies himself with those people who are hungry and thirsty, who are naked, who are homeless, who are imprisoned, who are sick. Indeed, Jesus identifies himself with those who are broken and wounded.

    Let us not forget that the King-Servant who builds relationship with us, who shows concern and love to us also expects response from us. Jesus wants us to show to others especially to the least of our brothers and sisters the concern, mercy and love that we experienced from God.

    The best way of expressing our gratitude to Christ, of our reverence and love for him is in making our faith concrete through the “corporal works of mercy” by feeding the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, comforting the sick, welcoming the stranger, visiting the imprisoned – the very people to whom our King identifies himself.

    This is the invitation for us on today. It is in our ordinary life, in every day affairs of our life that we are called to respond to Christ the King of the Universe who has called us. The corporal works of mercy can be expressed through our common and ordinary dealings with members of our family, our friends, co-workers and even strangers we meet on the road especially when we are confronted with all their brokenness, wounds and needs.

    Christ the King rather chooses to be identified with a sick old man abandoned by his family, or a rejected and broken-hearted daughter or son who succumbed to drug or alcohol addiction, or to a person physically, mentally and sexually abused, or to a person affected fatally by the financial crisis brought by the pandemic, or to a physically and mentally drained medical front-liner, or to an infected person of Covid-19, a grieving family because of the death of a loved one, or to a family being displaced because of the recent disasters, or a person deprived of voice and freedom or to a friend who suffers depression, or a classmate who is being bullied.

    Christ calls us to see and encounter him through these people. Expand now our image of Christ the King. Rather than imagining him with gold and jewels, let us encounter the Lord among our needy brothers and sisters. Thus, take time to reach out to those who need our help, in ways that we can do. Hopefully, that encounter and the experience of reaching out to the needy, will bring us into the experience of encountering Christ through others. Hinaut pa.