Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 5, 1-3; Colossians 1, 12-20; Luke 23, 35-43.
It has always been the paradox of Christianity to see in the crucified Christ the power of God. By all human logic, Christ crucified should instead be a symbol of failure, what the modern philosophers meant when they declared God dead. And when God is dead, there is no creator, only creatures. The order of things then will change, or even will be turned upside down.
The temptation of power and authoritarianism is part of our very nature as humans. There is a will to acquire power in each and every one of us. Jesus was also tempted till the end to change course in his life. He was challenged to switch to other paths rather than the one he opted for. But he resisted. That was what he also asked of his disciples and what he continues to ask of his Church throughout time.
This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King, reminding ourselves that being disciples of Christ is about committing ourselves to more justice in the world, promoting genuine concern for the future of humanity, it is about the struggle to give back to the marginalised in society their dignity. It is a commitment possibly to eliminate poverty.
In today’s second reading from Colossians, St Paul reminds us that the Father “has taken us out of the power of darkness” and that “you will have in you the strength never to give in”. The power of darkness is powerful and we need strength to not to give in. There are so many earthly kingdoms and empires still standing, fuelled by so many different forms of egoism, be they individual, collective or political.
Today’s gospel account is proved right and factual: “The people stayed there before the cross watching Jesus”. Instead of bringing people down from the cross, crosses are being multiplied and we very often find ourselves in situations where we simply stand watching helplessly. In the face of these crosses, we even argue politically in favour of refraining from doing something.
We seem to be at a point in history when the dreams that inspired our preceding generations are being shattered. British historian Eric Hobsbawm describes the short 20th century as a most troubled century and as uniquely destructive and creative. It was a century characterised by the tragedy of two world wars, the Holocaust, the cruelty of ideologies and by what has been termed as the drama of atheistic humanism.
These were the dark powers that weighed heavily on humanity in a century that also was inspired by the dream of a new world order, by the visions of wise and prophetic leaders who struggled for a united Europe, who set up organisations to fight poverty and malnutrition, who against all odds sustained the aspirations of unity, justice and enduring peace in the world.
Without sounding defeatist, it seems that in this first quarter of the 21st century, there are many who are giving in on the dreams and aspirations of a more humane world. The Trump victory, the Brexit trauma, the building of walls to hinder immigrants from intruding in the once affluent West, the emergence of political movements with strategies of isolationism and protectionism in the name of the resuscitated ideology of national security should be clear and loud warnings.
What has all this to do with what we are celebrating today? As we read in today’s first reading, King David had come a long way when he was chosen to be Israel’s leader with the brief to shepherd God’s people. We need leaders of vision to counter, before it’s too late, the alarming emerging scenario. History is peppered with extremes and reactions. But the worst thing that can happen is when we lack people of vision, leaders who can be prophetic in their reading of the times, and politicians who constantly opt for a populist pragmatism which tends to be void of core values and beliefs.
The king we celebrate today gave his life out of an infinite love for humanity. His thirst was not for power, but to rekindle a deeper sense of humanity in those around him.