Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 22 November 2020
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
There are several things that I personally find problematic wih this feast, the first one is that Jesus Christ never saw himself as a King in this manner at all. A second follows on-that any images of ruler connected to Jesus' own perception of ministry are couched in terms of service, very much as the Gospel of this feast suggests, this King is one who identifies in encompassing terms with the vulnerable and the least in our society: "Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'(Mt 25:34-36)
In case that hasn't made you uneasy with the image of "King of the Universe", a term alas that in our day seems more out of a comic magazine than anything else, then contrast the title with imagery from our first reading, it is all about Ezekiel's vision of God as definitely generous and caring, a shepherd, one who does the following: does not delegate tending and caring for the flock but does it in person and in dangerous times goes out to rescue the scattered and vulnerable flock. True this shepherd -God will also exercise judgement, that is in terms of separation between good and bad, but all will still be given rest, healing, good pasture. We know of course that this passage from Ezekiel is also an oracle about the false shepherds who have not anticipated the needs of the people nor ruled wisely, so God is promising the coming of an ideal Shepherd who will unify all nations, we seek that person in Jesus the Christ.
But it is Psalm 23 that lays out in its well-known phraseology a real challenge to any notion of Jesus, named the Christ, as a King made in human imagery.
I suggest that you read it and make it a refrain in your prayers this week, use it not only to remind yourself of the ministry of the Shepherd, but as a prayer for all who are lost, those who dwell in the shadow of death, for those you love and for anybody whose faith is shaken by what goes on in the Church. But take courage, all who follow this Shepherd or do as he does, will dwell in the house of the Lord!
Christ is indeed Lord of the Cosmos, for in him all things are united. As Paul writes" When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will [also] be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all'. (I Cor 15:28) Yes, there is the Cosmic Christ who has existed before time began and whose Incarnation links the Divine and Human forever, he is light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, the one who is enfleshed so we can be part of the life of God.
It is in this way that Christ is King, bringing us all with him, sharing in the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Spirit. Maybe `I am a bit churlish in critiquing the title of this feast, but I cannot help thinking this image of `Christ deserves better, servant king might do, but why King? We need our visionaries and poets to plough through scripture and find a better title that really says what the Cosmic Christ is; maybe it's something like, Lover of all things. I don't know, let the Spirit speak to you, and perhaps as an aide memoire, carry with you the Palm Sunday image of Jesus riding in majesty on the donkey- that says it all!
Lectio Divina
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me;
he revives my soul.
He guides me along the right path,
for the sake of his name.
Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
no evil would I fear, for you are with me.
Your crook and your staff will give me comfort.
You have prepared a table before me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the LORD's own house shall I dwell
for length of days unending.
Malcolm Guite
Poem
Christ the King
Mathew 25: 31-46
Our King is calling from the hungry furrows
Whilst we are cruising through the aisles of plenty,
Our hoardings screen us from the man of sorrows,
Our soundtracks drown his murmur: 'I am thirsty'.
He stands in line to sign in as a stranger
And seek a welcome from the world he made,
We see him only as a threat, a danger,
He asks for clothes, we strip-search him instead.
And if he should fall sick then we take care
That he does not infect our private health,
We lock him in the prisons of our fear
Lest he unlock the prison of our wealth.
But still on Sunday we shall stand and sing
The praises of our hidden Lord and King.