Sunday, November 21, 2021
Di Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of di Universe, Year B
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Jesus answer, “My Kingdom no belong to this world. If My Kingdom belong to this world, di people wey dey serve Me for dey fight so dem no go hand Me over to di Jews. But as e be, My Kingdom no dey here.” John 18:36
Today, for di last Sunday of our Church year, we dey celebrate di glorious Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of di Universe. Advent go start next Sunday. For this day, we dey declare this deep truth wey we believe: our Lord na King! Na Him be King of all things. Na Him be King of di Universe. And na Him be King of Heaven and everything wey concern di spirit. But for di Gospel passage wey we quote above, Jesus dey answer Pilate, wey dey ask am whether He be King of di Jews or not. Jesus make am clear say He be King, but His Kingdom no belong to this world. So where His Kingdom dey?
We fit look wetin Jesus talk from two different sides. First of all, if Jesus talk say He be king for this world, wey get authority to govern di land, Pilate for judge am say He dey guilty of trying to overthrow di Roman government. This one for dey against di law, and di punishment for be death. If na so e be, dem for fit find Jesus guilty under di law say He break di law of di land.
But Jesus no get any guilt at all. His character and conduct perfect for every way, and this one include how He obey all di valid laws of di land. But Jesus na King. Na Him be di King of all Kings! So, to exercise His authority as King, He declare say His Kingdom no be of this world. This one mean say His Kingdom no dey compete with di Roman authorities or any other government authority. Pilate no know how to answer that one.
Today and always, God want make His glorious Kingdom rule for every way. God dey start by ruling inside our souls. He dey invite us to welcome am make He enter and take control of our lives. He want rule every strong feeling, desire, thought and action wey we get. When this one happen, His Kingdom go stand firm inside us.
We also need to point out say Jesus want make His Kingdom grow. First, e must grow inside di minds and wills of everybody. But from there, He want make each person work so that every part of our society go follow His rule as King. This one mean say as di hearts of government leaders dey turn to God, God go call dem to make laws wey go fully support and build up His Kingdom for earth. E mean say as business leaders dey turn to God, He dey call dem to run their businesses according to His will, so that their businesses go help establish God Kingdom here and now. E mean say as di leaders of our schools, sports programmes, social programmes and other things like these dey invite Jesus to rule for their hearts as King, di King of di Universe go guide dem to make all their work follow His will and continue to build up His Kingdom.
For how to govern every part of society, di first duty of di Christian no be to force God law on people from outside, as one ruler wey no get mercy and dey force everybody to obey am go do. Instead, na to help minds and hearts turn to God, so that God rule go come from inside. As God Kingdom dey take root for di lives of His people, dem must overturn all di things for our earthly laws wey be serious evil in demself. For example, to make abortion legal stand out as wetin fit be di greatest evil for human conduct, because e involve taking life wey no get any guilt at all. As hearts and minds dey turn to His Truth, God laws must replace this law and di countless other earthly laws wey dey against wetin good.
Today, think deeply about your duty to help bring God Kingdom here and now. Start by recognising your duty to allow God Kingdom grow inside you and your family. From there, dey open to di many ways wey God want use you to help other people do di same. As you dey do so, no fear to work so that God Kingdom go also take root for di world outside, for everything wey you dey do and everything wey you get responsibility for. Jesus na King, and He want rule everywhere. Work together with am, and His Kingdom go surely come.
My King wey full of glory, I choose You as King of my life, and I dedicate everything wey I dey do and everything wey I dey try achieve to You. Abeg, use me to make Your Kingdom spread. I pray for wisdom, sense to judge matters well and courage as You dey send me out to help bring Your reign of mercy and justice into di lives of all people and into di whole Universe wey You create. Make Your Kingdom come, and make dem do Your will! Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Di Presentation of di Blessed Virgin Mary—Memorial
Dem no dey celebrate am as liturgical memorial this year because e fall on Sunday
Read More – Christ di King
