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Our Faith
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 OUR
RISEN KING
- By Fr. Karel
Veeger, MSC
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Since the beginning of Christianity, the title “king” has
been a powerful metaphor to indicate the mission and
function of Jesus Christ. On the walls of the catacombs in
Rome, we can see how the first Christians presented Jesus
seated on a throne. Before republics and civil states were
established, people throughout the world - including
Indonesia – were ruled by local kings. When their
performance corresponded with the image they had of a king,
that is, of saviour or defender, unifier, peacemaker and
wise judge, they were called good kings.
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Nowadays, the concept of “king” has lost much of its
power. Kings have been dethroned, and the leading concept
now has become sovereignty of the people and democracy.
Nonetheless, the Church still maintains the idea of “Christ,
Universal King”, and celebrates Christ as such on the last
Sunday of the liturgical year. Reason, of course, is that
the metaphor “king” is repeatedly used in Holy Scripture,
but also because it has lost nothing of its meaning for the
reflective mind of the believer, who thinks further than
what is just traditional or fashionable. Christ is indeed
the Savior, the Unifier, the Peacemaker and the wise Judge
par excellence in the truest sense of these words. In Him
and through Him, man lives.
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Anthropology teaches us that, in the past, people in
Indonesia
and Asia, in general, conceived of their individual life as
being intrinsically connected with the life of the king. The
king and his people were one! It was believed that in order
for the people to prosper and have many children, the king
must be rich, live in a palace and have many descendants.
It was believed that life originated from heaven, passed
through the king, and on to his people. So, people
identified themselves with their royal ruler. His life was
theirs; his virtues were their virtues; but also, his sins
were their sins. King David, after he had sinned, asked the
Lord not to punish his people for what he had done.
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In the Old Testament, it is told that the scattered and
splintered tribes of
Israel
prayed for many years to be given a king, so that they might
become a strong and united people, like it was in
neighboring countries. When finally Saul was raised as
their first king, the judge Samuel poured out oil on his
head, saying, “The Lord anoints you commander over His
heritage; you are to govern God’s people Israel and to save
them of the grasp of their enemies round about.” (1 Samuel
10:1)
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The history of kingship in
Europe is
not different. Before monarchies were established, the land
was splintered between rival landlords. People suffered from
frequent armed attacks by wandering bands of soldiers or
bandits, who raped women, plundered, and made them live in
constant fear. So, they longed for unity. They were only
too willing to entrust themselves to a centralized power in
exchange for peace and well-being. They, too, conceived of
human life in its dependence on the king. Kings were
anointed by the grace of God. At their investiture, they
were told to be the protector of the helpless, the sick and
the poor, and the defender of the Church.
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Against this socio-historical background, we will
understand how the concept of “Christ the King” was a living
concept for the faithful. Yes, He was THE King. He Himself
had admitted it before the governor Pilate: “Yes, I am!”
However, not in the political sense. “My Kingdom does not
belong to this world.” (John 18:36). Our Christmas carols
sing of “a King was born in
Bethlehem”. People loved the contrast! He was real King,
but His throne was the manger, and would later become the
cross with its inscription, “Jesus from Nazareth, King of
the Jews”. He was King, but “…wrapped in swaddling clothes”
(Luke 2:7). Those who came first to visit Him were not
royalty or high-ranking officials or diplomats, but
shepherds.
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Christians throughout the world and the ages saw in Him the
true King, even the King of kings. His virtues and holiness
would be theirs. He had come to share His eternal richness
with the humble in spirit. Says
St. Paul,
“…how rich are the wonderful blessings Jesus promises His
people” (Ephesians 1:18). Jesus wants us to identify
ourselves with Him, calling ourselves “Christians”, being
one with Him.
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He saved us from the banditry of evil. In His person,
He expiated the sins of the world. By His bruises, He has
healed us. By His Resurrection, the whole of mankind is
called to rise again into new life, prospering spiritually
together with Him. His mission was to unify what was
splintered and scattered, “bringing all creation together,
everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as Head”
(Ephesians
1:10).
In one of the Mass prefaces, the People of God are called a
royal nation adopted into God’s Kingdom.
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