THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR C
2 Sam. 5:1-3; Ps 122:
Col. 1:12-20; Mk 11:
JESUS OUR KING AND KING OF THE UNIVERSE
This Sunday is the culmination of our whole Liturgical year and as a church we focus on Jesus, the universal King. Realizing that our eternal destiny is towards heaven, we are called upon by the Liturgy to think about Jesus as the King of our lives. For a world so focused on itself and its people crazy about materialism, it is important to call attention to the fact that there is one who owns and rules all things and all time…, and his name is Jesus.
The first reading speaks of David and the beginning of his reign over all Israel. This story of David gives us a characterization of the Kingship of Jesus.
After the death of King Saul, David did not immediately become king of all Israel. At the time, he was king only of the tribe of Judah while Ishbaal the son of Saul, reigned over the other tribes collectively called “Israel” (2 Sam. 2:8-10). But gradually the power and recognition shifted to David as the house of Saul disintegrated.
After Ishbaal was murdered, the people came to David to make him their king. A careful reading will show that two groups of people came to him; the people and the elders. Whilst the people wanted him to be their leader and shepherd, the elders on the other hand wanted him as their king. For this reason, they made a pact with David by which he becomes their shepherd, leader and king.
As shepherd, David gathers them together into one flock. It was during the reign of David that all the tribes of Israel became one nation. As their Leader, he led them to battle and war. He gave them courage to face the difficulties and threats to their life and existence. This is the function of protection and security. As their king, he was to lead them in a way that was pleasing to God. He was to embrace the Law of God and lead the people in a national obedience and submission to God.
This short reading has great indications about Jesus for us to explore. As we celebrate him as King of the Universe, the first thing we must keep in mind is that the Lord is the king par excellence.
First of all Jesus is the shepherd. Jesus as shepherd unites and gathers all people before one God. As the shepherd gathers all the sheep into one flock, so too Jesus gathers all the children of God so that there will be one flock one shepherd (Jn 10:16). He has come to call all of us to God no matter how unworthy we see ourselves. You may see yourself as too sinful, too far gone in your relationship with God but that is why he came. To shepherd us into the merciful and gentle hands of God the Father. He tends and heals our broken relationship with God.
The people never forgot the military accomplishments of David especially his victory over Goliath. They believed him to be a man of great courage to lead them in battle. In the same way as a leader, Jesus leads us to face courageously the daily battles of our lives. He was courageous enough to become man and to suffer like us, in this way, he leads us to be victors like him also. The letter to the Hebrews says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and finisher of our faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:2). We also believe that, with him by our side we shall also inherit the crown of victory that awaits us in heaven. Jesus will never lead us into defeat or failure. With him there is always victory. We know that as Christians, the battles we face are not only physical but mostly spiritual. However, Jesus is with us till the end of time (Matt. 28:20). In it all, God gives us victory through Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).
What are the battles that confront you? What are your struggles? Come to Jesus. Totally commit to him and he will help you win your battles. He will grant you your breakthrough. May you overcome and win every battle in your life in Jesus’ name. With Jesus, your storm will be calm.
We would recall that the first time the people asked for a king was in 1 Sam 8:5. And the reason was for effective leadership and justice. It happened that as Samuel got older, his children did not dispense justice as he did. The role of the king therefore was to lead them in the way of justice and this is accomplished by adherence and obedience to the Law of God. No can be just apart from God’s commandments. For this reason, the king is expected to keep a copy of the Torah and study it. He is also expected to ensure that the people obey God’s commandments (Deut. 17:18-19). For Jesus, he is the very Word of God. John says he is the Word of God from the beginning who has taken flesh in us and among us.
Jesus told us that he came to bring fulfillment to the Word of God. In the Lord Jesus, in his teachings and life, we have the WORD of salvation. He leads us to the Father in obedience and holiness.
God Bless You.
By Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
