“My” “King”
“The King” should become personal.
24th November is the last Sunday of the liturgical year, celebrated as the feast of Christ the King. In my native India, there are processions in most of the parishes around the church. It reminds us of the second coming of Jesus, where Jesus comes as the King.
“My” king in the king
Jesus is the King of the Universe. Now this can be a wonderful statement that is written in the books, which is so unreal for me. I was reading a philosopher named Max Scheler (on whom the famous Pope John Paul II did his doctoral dissertation). I like to first mention an idea of Emmanuel Kant to understand the point of Scheler. Kant (one of the most influential philosophers) had a famous principle called Categorical imperative (similar to golden rule which means do unto others as they want to do it for you).
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. (Emmanuel Kant)
I am called to behave in such a way that my action can become an universal law. Or in otherwords, I won’t do a certain act if I may not appreciate others doing the same on me. Obviously this choice is not just based on some inclinations, but strongly based on reason. Now, this can be a beautiful way of framing the laws, but such a framing of laws can be very impersonal. I don’t say they are not beautiful or of highest quality, but that they can be impersonal.
Now Scheler will reject such a kind of universality, and he gives important to individual person. He would say “good-in-itself” is not enough (or it is a beautiful universal principal). What is ethics for him is “good-in-itself-for me”. To avoid the immediate critique that it is philosophy of relativism (anything can go), I should define Scheler properly. It is again not based on my inclinations; it is good-in-itself not only for me, but it is a good-in-itself which has a personal experiential dimension. This is not any kind of individualism, but this is not the sphere of general, abstract laws.
Our Statement “Christ is the king of the world” can be a beautiful statement (and remains so). Just like Kant’s principle, it has all beauty. It is true, but it is not sufficient enough. When I say “Christ is my King” (in the style of Scheler), it is much more personal; it is not that he is “only my King”.
The King
Now coming to the word King, what are the names that immediately coming to our minds. Probably the ancient kings like Akbar or Ashoka in India, or the current kings in England or Spain or other countries; or some people like the famous basketball player Lebron James is nicknamed as the King; or some prime-ministers or presidents or officials rule like a King. When some of these Kings don’t have any executive power (just nominal positions), others are given the title for their excessive use of power. In most of these cases, the sense doesn’t match much with Christian understanding of King.
It is important to realize that human beings are symbolic beings; symbols are very important for us. But the difficulty with the symbols is the lose of the significance as time progresses. Think of symbols like king, shepherd, father etc. King and shepherd may not have the same significance as in the time of Jesus. Father is a problematic symbol for people who has a difficult experience with their own fathers. It doesn’t mean we throw away all these symbols, but need to contextualize them for our own times and discover new symbols.
Jesus is my King
I am not giving more definitions; when Jesus is my King, it is an invitation. It is an invitation to live in the kingdom Spirit.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14, 17)
- It is an invitation from a King who lived a simple life, who suffered and who loved all through out his life.
- It is an invitation to be gathered by the King to a gathering where all are invited. You have the company of thief on the right side, Zacchaeus, Mathew, woman who was caught in adultery, Peter, Paul and so on. Is it an august company?
- It is an invitation to be “contemplatives, even in action”.
- It is an invitation to be “alter Christus”, be that simple Christ in the world. Best examples are not any kings, but Francis of Assisi, Paul of Tarsus, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King and so on…. Even some of those saintly figures around us…
