Christ is the king!

Jesus is the king of all universe! Magnificent, unequivocal king of glory and ruler of all creation!
His dynasty shall last forever!

During one of school holidays, a young orphan girl went home to stay with her poor grandma.
She used to be an Instagram sensation, posting pictures of herself standing beside or in front of beautiful houses, restaurants, hotels and as a passenger inside an executive car.

Many would think she was from a very wealthy family as she has always presented herself to be on social media. So during the long holiday, her Instagram went cold, this was after she has exhausted all options in her photo album. She was now left with throwback Thursdays that her friends began to wonder if all was ok with her. One of her friends called her one of the days and curiously asked if she was ok. She said she has not been able to dress up and go out thus no photos. Her friend then made some attempts at video calling but every attempts met a deaf response. She was ashamed of her grandma’s house – her humble background.

The concept of kingship in our modern society brings with it an expectation of certain pride and material richness.
In my Igbo traditional setting, a king (Eze) is well respected and almost adored. He takes the front sit at every occasion, He gives orders and others follow.

You may want to think of the kings you know or may have heard of in today’s world then you understand better what kingship entails.

Jesus’ kingship comes not as we know it today – born in a family of kings?

No!

But though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not count himself equality with God a thing to be found, he emptied himself, taken the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of men, he humbled himself and was obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God exalted him and gave him the name above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the father.

His role as king is one that tends his flock as a shepherd (Matthew 25:32), meets his flock at their lowest point and guides them safely to the top. He doesn’t want to see his sheep left unattended or in need. He binds our wounds and leads us to his home.

The word of God says in Ezekiel 34:15 “I will be the shepherd of my sheep”.

Friends, since Jesus the son of God is king, we as the adopted sons and daughters of God are kings as well. At baptism we were made kings. Our kingship is and should be according to the mind of Christ.
Jesus wants us to be imitators of his kingly nature.
Not afraid or ashamed of our poor neighbours but to use our resources to give light to the dark places of our world.
I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me water to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, sick and afflicted and you comforted me; I was lonely and you made me a friend (Matthew 25:35-36)

Now, Since Christ is the royal ruler of the universe and if doing something for the needy is the same as doing if for Christ, then even the least among us is royalty and even the little we do to them is royal service.

Unlike the young girl in our story, may we never be ashamed of our poor beginnings, knowing that Jesus came through the poor carpenters family of Nazareth. He lived through it in humility and selfless charity and fulfilled his earthly mission.

May we learn from the humility and selflessness of Jesus’ kingship and hope to come out exalted with him on high when then he shall say to us: “come O blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”

Let us pray

Jesus our eternal king, we adore you. We are very thankful that you protect us, care for us, and hear us when we call upon you. Grant us your goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. May we dwell with you in your heavenly kingdom forever. Amen.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever. Amen!

– Fr. James Anyaegbu