Sunday Reflections

I find it hard to relate to the image of Jesus Christ as King of the Universe.  Perhaps this is because political leaders in our human world seem so far from the ideals of kingship expressed in the Bible. Our leaders seem less interested in speaking the truth than in saying what they think people want to hear, in order to get their own way in the end. Our leaders are also less inclined to search out the truth so that they can act justly, instead of taking the path of least resistance or cost.

Jesus presents us with an ideal Kingship.  “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18: 37.  Jesus speaks the truth about how much God loves each of us, His creatures, and how much He longs for us to love Him in return.  Jesus speaks the truth that each one of us was created unique and for our own individual purpose, a purpose we were each designed specifically to fulfill.  Jesus speaks the truth when He calls us out for our sins and invites us to be Reconciled with God and our brothers and sisters.  Jesus speaks the truth when He promises that each of us can experience the joy of the Resurrection and eternal life with Him, if we only accept God’s love and its healing power in our lives.

When we think about the truths to which Christ the King testifies, it becomes clear that we will never have a human leader who can reach this ideal.  Each of us strives to love God above all else, and love our neighbour as ourselves.  But I don’t think any of us can say that in every moment of every day we speak the truth of the Gospel and live it out.

And so we live in this broken human world, with our eyes and hearts fixed on the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of truth, which shall have no end.  No matter who our earthly leaders are, if we live each day knowing that our King, the true King, loves us and wants us to live as His creatures of love, serving Him by serving the people around us, then we will eventually live, body and soul, in His eternal Kingdom.  That is a King I can relate to, and one I will strive every day to serve.