Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 34th Sunday

What is kingship? Lessons from King David and Jesus on the Cross

1st Reading:

Responsorial Psalm: , ,

2nd Reading:

Gospel Proclamation: Alleluia ,

Gospel:

"since the journey is long via [through] precepts, but short and efficient through exempla", (Sen. ); this quotation is from Lucius Annaeus Seneca 4 b.c.?–a.d. 65, Roman statesman, dramatist, and philosopher. Two points is this quotation are worthy of pondering: the first argues that stories, especially exemplary stories are more efficient than the concepts and precepts concerning moral behaviour; the second point argues that the importance of stories in forming our moral behaviors. Overall, whose stories we tell and how we tell them matter in our lives. Today’s readings provide for us two exemplary stories, namely, David’s Coronation and Jesus’s promising his kingdom to a repentant criminal, and a short philosophical hymn, praising Jesus is the Lord of the universe, the head of the body, the Church (two parts: first paragraph, ad extra, Jesus, Lord of Universe; second paragraph, ad intra, the head of the body, the Church). Since the exemplary stories are more efficient, so let us begin with the exemplary stories of David and Jesus first and then look precepts and concepts in the Letter of Colossians for an in-depth appreciation.

since the exemplary stories are more efficient, so let us begin with the exemplary stories of David and Jesus first and then look precepts and concepts in the Letter of Colossians for an in-depth appreciation.

David’s coronation has two parts: the first part tells us why David should be the chief shepherd and rule over Israel and the second part briefly describes David’s kingship is sealed with a covenantal celebration. I will primarily focus on the first part, why the elders and all the tribes believed that David should be the king. three reasons are given: 1. David is family, the elders remind of David with these specific words, “we are your bone and flesh;” 2. David is one them, with them always in good times or bad, and willing to do everything for them, plus, David has better personality than Saul, their late king; listen to these word carefully, “For some time, while Soul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in;” 3. more importantly, David was chosen by God to be shepherd of Israel; we probably recall the Prophet Samuel anointed David, a shepherd boy, the youngest son of Jesse. All three reasons are crucial to understand the universal kingship of Jesus.

In Jesus’s promise of kingdom to the repentant criminal, we see all three elements, the chosen one, being with the people of Israel (here, we should understand as suffering with his people of Isreal, and all the oppressed), and the promise of a kingdom, a new family, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” In the gospel, however, we have two very difference approach to kingship, hence toward Jesus. The first group is represented by the leaders and one of criminals crucified alongside of Jesus. they emphasize the power to save. In their mind, a king must take care of the threat from outside, from enemies. To stay alive would be the minimal requirement for a king. The second group is represented by the other criminal hanging on the cross with Jesus and the disciples of Jesus (who are telling the story). They begin to see Jesus is the king, the chosen one, always on their side and a new family.

Here, I think the Letter of Colossians are important to help us to see that Jesus Christ is our Lord and the King of the Universe. Jesus is the king because he shines a light on good and evil, right and wrong. He rescues us from the power of darkness and transfer us into the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. let’s pause for a second, recall the scoff and mockery of the leaders and the criminal about Jesus’s lack of power to save himself and others from people. Here, Jesus is understood as having power to save from moral decay and spiritual death, sin, which is within each of us. being oppressed by others is devastating, but oppressed by moral darkness and sin is worse.

the letter goes on to explain why Jesus has power to save and how is he using his power to save. Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

How does Jesus save us? he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. And by joining Jesus’s family, we are reconciled to God and making peace through the blood of his cross.