COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHOSE WILL IS TO RESTORE ALL THINGS IN YOUR BELOVED SON, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT THE WHOLE CREATION, SET FREE FROM SLAVERY, MAY RENDER YOUR MAJESTY SERVICE AND CEASELESSLY PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
2Sam 5:1-3; Ps 121:1-2,4-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43.
“LORD, COME REIGN IN MY LIFE AND LET YOUR WILL BE DONE THROUGH ME”.
Today we celebrate the Universal Kingship of Christ, popularly called “Christ the King”. This feast has a lot to teach us, especially leaders in general of our generation how to rule and lead the people entrusted into their care.
The first reading stresses the human and royal origin of Jesus; the second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians stresses Jesus’ divine origin. In the Gospel, the scoffers see a man; the repentant thief recognises something more in Jesus-Jesus is Saviour and Messiah. So he tells Jesus to “remember me when you come into your Kingdom”. Instantly, the response from Jesus is: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”.
If these scripture texts are talking about Jesus’ kingship, how did He exercise it particularly when He was on earth? Does Jesus leave any example for today’s leaders/kings as well as for all of us to imitate? There are indeed, a lot of examples that Jesus left for us to emulate in carrying out our leadership roles.
1) Jesus as an Honest and Truthful Leader/King:
“…For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (Jh . 18:37). Can we still find honest and truthful leaders/kings in our century and generation? Because of fear, people are not able to speak the truth. The dishonesty in the world cannot be compared with anything in our present world. Lies have become daily food and drink for many people today and we find, see and hear about so many dishonest and deceitful leaders/kings today in our world.
This cuts across all spheres of human life. (a) Our church leadership is not left out. (b) The Family: Some spouses are so deceitful and dishonest to their partners. Some children are worse off in this regard. (c) In our Offices: some bosses are dishonest and deceitful. We also have some subordinates who are dishonest and deceitful. (d) Dishonesty and lies are more pronounced in politics. There is now the popular belief that if you want to succeed in politics, you must learn how to tell lies and deceive people.
These days, the world is familiar with the popular slogan that “it is not everything you see that you must talk about “. Therefore, the “matter can be black” but you have to say it is “white”. Where are we heading?
2) Jesus, the “Developer” of People:
As king/leader, Jesus worked tirelessly to develop people, providing both physical and spiritual development for people (nourishment for both body and soul). This was because He had sympathy and mercy for people and He could feel for them. He fed 5000 (4000) people (Mt.14:13ff; 15:32ff; Mk . 6:30ff; Lk . 9:10ff; Jn6:1). He also healed the sick and the possessed. He brought health and wholeness to them. Are leaders today ready and willing to develop and build people and their communities? There are a lot of leaders in the world who would rather ‘pull others down’ (pull him/her down-“PHD”) than promote them in the community.
3) Jesus as a Selfless King/Leader:
Even what was so dear to him (His own life), what is so dear to any human being (life), Jesus gave it out. He sacrificed that for our salvation. This is a great virtue for kings/leaders of our time to emulate. Some leaders of our time are not ready to sacrifice or ‘die’ for their people.
4) Jesus, a humble King, who came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He did not lord it over others. He did not come to be served by others, unlike most present-day kings and leaders who do the opposite. He washed the feet of his disciple, a duty of a slave/servant (Jn.13:2ff), so symbolic and worthy of emulation for all of us.
5) Jesus a Leader/King of His Own Mind:
He was not being pushed here and there like the wind blowing cotton here and there. Remember John and James making a request to sit at his right and left hand sides in his glory. We also remember Peter’s reaction when Jesus spoke about his impending death. Also, when the Pharisees accused Jesus of eating with tax collectors and sinners, and so on. These attest to the fact that Jesus had his own mind and knew what he was doing and he focused on that.
Some leaders/kings of our generation do not have their own minds. They follow the crowd and they allow the crowd to dictate to them what to do. This, however, does not mean that as a leader you should do your own thing, disregarding the people you are leading. There is still the need to consult and take good counsel from people of goodwill and people who are full of repute.
Even though Jesus had his own mind, he, from time to time, consulted his Father and the Holy Spirit in prayer. Several times he withdrew into the wilderness or into lonely places or into the mountains to do this. Some leaders of our time behave like King Rehoboam, son of King Solomon, who did not listen to the elders’ advice but rather listened to what his peers advised him to do (Cf. 1Kgs 12:1-20).
6) Jesus, an Obedient Leader/King.
He obeyed his Father, knowing very well that it is the Father who made him a son. Therefore, He submitted and committed Himself to doing the fathers will. (Phili. 2:1ff). There are some leaders today who behave as if it is by their own might and power that they are where they are. They ignore God and therefore pride and arrogance will not allow them to humble themselves before God and the people they serve. Such leaders are fond of going into occultism to get more power, authority and security. Such are failed leaders. God is our ultimate source of power, authority and security. He makes people leaders and he gives people power and authority.
JESUS A YOUTH.
Jesus was a youth, only 33 years on earth. He was never lazy. He worked hard. He had no time to enjoy any comfort (Lk . 9:57; Mt . 8:19). What is happening to our youth of today? What do they do? They claim there are no jobs/work in the system to do. This is not true. There are a lot of things we can do on our own as self-employed. There are also a lot of youth who lack the spirit of enthusiasm and endurance, and because of that, they are only interested in what they can do now or today and reap the benefits/interests. Most of them are not interested in long-term businesses and jobs.
Also, most of our youth want non-existent jobs or jobs that they are not qualified to do: ‘white colour jobs’ without a paper qualification. Jobs that they are qualified to do or those they can do, they are not ready for. In fact, they find such jobs demeaning.
At a television discussion recently about the so-called popular outcry that there are no jobs in the system, one of the panellists cried that the issue is not about no jobs, but lots of people are looking for non-existent jobs, "White Colour Jobs", but not Technical and Vocational Jobs, Agriculture and the like that are readily available. That is why, according to him, lots of people are not satisfied with their degrees and certificates, but have continued schooling to get more degrees and certificates for no jobs in the field of Academia. Even at the pre-tertiary and tertiary levels, some people have to buy results with cash or kind to deceive themselves that they are academically qualified. Now we experience graduate unemployment, as well as the situation of "square pegs in round holes" in the field of jobs. It is a pity.
Please, my dear youth, as we celebrate the Universal Kingship of Christ, we pray that we may emulate Jesus’ virtues of hard work, initiative, the spirit of endurance, the ability to focus on the future, etc. May Jesus Christ, the King of the universe reign in us, especially in our leaders. As we also climax the. I also like to urge all Ghanaian Youth, as you are full of energy and strength, excitement and youthful exuberance, to be careful with yourselves and your lives. Act prudently and wisely, and do not allow anyone, to abuse and misuse you. Happy feast day and stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SUNDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HAVING RECEIVED THE FOOD OF IMMORTALITY, WE ASK, O LORD, THAT, GLORYING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WE MAY LIVE WITH HIM ETERNALLY IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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