HOMILY: SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING 2020
Since the second quarter of this year, the world is apparently in the survival mode because of the various natural disasters that hit the different parts of the world. The most serious is of course covid- 19 pandemic that paralyzed the whole world. Economy crashed, people are sick, dying and living in fear. Earthquakes, typhoons, flash floods that left people in total devastation. Where is God while we are being tossed in the ocean of sufferings? Where is Christ the King? If He is our King, are we losing the battle?
Jesus is both the King of the Universe and the Saviour of the world. Jesus Christ is the King who searches the lost. The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel assures us “I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, I will seek the lost, I will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak”. In this time of pandemic, we are overwhelmed by fear. Fear disconnects us with God and from one another. Fear made us lost, broken and weak. I do not blame people who are extremely afraid because it is a human instinct to danger. The word of God is telling us that fear does not come from God for He is love. In fact, “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear… we have a God who has loved us so much that He gave His only Son. God says to each of us, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
Jesus Christ is the King of our hearts. The gospel according to Matthew tells us about people who have big hearts for the lost, weak and broken and recognize the face of Jesus in them. In the final judgment Christ the King had told the righteous, Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did to me. This time of pandemic, we have to allow Jesus to reign in our hearts. As we observe the precautions prescribed by the government and the archdiocese, let us continue spreading love around us and all throughout the world. Love must be powerful than fear. We have to extend our helping hand to the weak, the lost and injured. Let us keep our connections with the vulnerable, lonely and isolated. Let us remember them in our prayers.
Jesus Christ is a King because He has power to give life out of death. The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians imparts us the good news, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep”. Many had already lost their lives through both pandemic and natural disaster. Those who were not spared from the virus because they are coming from nowhere; people who died because they were helpless in the midst of howling winds and raging waters. We have front liners who had unselfishly offered their lives and rescuers who dedicated their service to save lives but unfortunately lost their dear lives. They did not die in vain. Christ is our King because He has the power to give them more than what they have lost. It is the life in eternity.