Christ the King, Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What is a king?

ruler, leader, emperor

learn from the king of kings

the good shepherd, lord of hosts

Truth itself shows us leadership

see how he rules

do you see symbol o throne here?

Christ shows us the glory of a hierarchy (literally holy rule)

Misconceptions

Because of individualism

more sensitive to seeing abuse of power

where humanity, there corruption

where humanity corrupt hierarchies (totally or partially)

Easily think ALL hierarchies= baseless reasons for people being over others

just power plays

try to make everyone and everything equal

make same even where totally absurd

mere possibility hierarchy is baseless makes just assume its baseless

b/c strike at exclusions and inequality as if all inequality is bad and all exclusion evil

Body analogy

Yet even in our age we all support unequal hierarchies as good

recruit players differently

definitely rankings (billions on this)

Go to expert in neurology, not a local chef if brain issues

Judge for legal ruling

Where we actually care about the subject, we immediately find right hierarchies

We all have recognized right authority before.

the right rulers over a subject matter

So if there can be right rule, what is a ruler?

Truth about rule?

one God’s favorite images of hierarchy is a shepherd over sheep

Good shepherd lays down life for sheep

why?

Think of any role, any profession

what does a true doctor primarily do?

serves physical health

what does a true carpenter do?

serves wooden furniture

what does a true public influence do?

serves popularity on media

They all serve their subject matter

if a doctor doesnt serve health, etc

all serves subject matter.

Thus good shepherd serves the sheep

if sells them not acting as shepherd but merchant

fair enough, but arent being a shepherd anymore

money making is subject matter of money maker, not another role

doc can money maker too, but is still a doc w/o money and it money making can conflict with being a doctor

think of a doctor corrupted by money of pill sales

what is the subject of a leader or king?

their subject is their subjects

all roles serve their subject

thus a king is the servant of his subjects

Christ reverses appearances

appearances SOMETIMES opposite of reality

by appearance often the ruler is served not the server

Christ took appearance of slave because he is a true ruler

came not to be served but to serve

this is why bruised purple or bloody red is such a good color for nobility

even by serving God we save ourself and fulfill our deepest satisfaction

in the end, on that terrible deis irae reality will match appearances when the Lord of Armies comes in splendor

high brought low and lowly brought high

Mean for us?

Do not sin by coveting power

first of all because its wrong to be prideful and covetous

second because its actually absurd, like all sin, if we were more selfish

why want to become the slave of all?

the more power the more responsibility

To become a real leader is to become a servant

Look at the parents, the rulers of children

oh the glory of changing diapers and disciplining teenager....

surely any parent would wish to extend the rule more and more mightier and have authority of 10,000 kids at once!

be the Alexander the Great of parenting...

bless the good parent of many, not least because they extend their loving authority over so many.

Third because there are many types of rulers based on different expertise and gifts

dont assume God gave you gifts to be a certain type of slave to others (being a ruler)

none of us can be king over the universe or even fully ourselves

for only God (the Good itself) can make good.

And it is through his examples of kingship and authority he grants that all our little hierarchies ought be based

As our mighty emperor rules, so should all rulers: from the humble throne of the sacrifice of the cross.

Notes

Me

nature of king/ruler

shepherd not mercenary

we are made co-rulers not slaves (free will)

The imperium of God

hierarchies

service rather than power

Authorship

Church

Laying asside kinghood (symbolized by garments)

opposite of adam clothign self

Chrysostom: good thief sees king in the criminal

Despoiled the devil by taking thief a conquering king on cross