Monday 18 November 2013

Christ the king...!

Christ the King
Feast at Vettucaud (Mass for the Youth) Tuesday, 19th Nov 2013)
Introduction:
The feast of Christ the king of late has become so popular that it is given the status of a regional feast with the district administration declaring the afternoon of the ostentatious flag hoisting day as holiday. The crowds on Fridays, irrespective of religious affiliations, give testimony loud and clear of its growing popularity..! People certainly must be experiencing the solace Jesus promised to those who are laid with the burdens of life.
With the usual fanfare we have commenced the feast with the colorful flag hoisting ceremony. And it is the fifth day dedicated for the younger people of our parish as well as the region, especially the pilgrim population.
As pilgrims and devotees, you must all be eager to listen to the glories of Christ the king and thereby to submit yourselves to his reign of love and peace. Bear with me, if you can for having come here not to incense your piety, but to explore with you the rational foundations of the title ‘king’ in the light of the gospels.  At this juncture, I would like to request you to lend your ears for something not necessarily pietistic or even faith bound. Let us wade through the muddy waters of history, theology and the like to reach to the pure and pristine waters of the original message.
King:
Do we know that both ‘Christ’ and ‘king’ are only titles? The title Christ has become so identified with Jesus that the one stands for the other! Christ or the anointed one or the redeemer, savior is what his disciples felt Jesus to be, especially after his ‘resurrection’: “…God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36) This was the first preaching. This same Peter who answered Jesus that he was the Christ. And Jesus charged them to tell no one about him (Mk 8:29-30).
Christ is a title which may go well with God. And what about kingship, a lesser status attributed to God. [Incidentally remember the story of Napoleon snatching the crown from the Pope who was supposed to crown him and place it on himself!] So, there is no credit in calling Christ a king.
In Jesus God dwelt among us ‘doing good.’ (Acts 10:38) He ‘did not count equality with God… humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.’ (Phil 2:6-8) He told us that ‘You are the light of the world…’ (Mt 5:14) in the same vein as he claimed to be the ‘the light of the world.’ (Jn 8:12) He taught us to call God ‘Our father…’ (Mt 6:9) He called us ‘friends.’ (Jn 15:14-15)
The title, Christ the king is not seen in the gospels but for the following: the assembly of the elders…, both chief priests and scribes accused Jesus of claiming to be “Christ a king” (Lk 23:2) and his challenging the position of Christ being the son of David (Mt 22:41-45).
In few instances Jesus was said to be the king of Jews. The wise men from the East coming to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews”? (Mt 2:2) At the trial the governor asked Jesus, “Are you the king of Jews?”(27:11). John in 19:19 speaks of a title Pilate wrote to be put on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.”
In fact he never wanted to be a king, even when people wanted to make him one after the multiplication of bread in John 6:15. When the governor asked him, “Are you the King of Jews?” he said to him, “You have said so.” (Mt 27:11) Moreover his very vision of life is that of service quite contrary to that of any king’s.
When Samuel didn’t subscribe to the Israelites’ demand for a king of their own God directs him to anoint one after warning them of the fallouts of having a king I Sam 8:10-18. Jesus would be the last person to be one such king, however generous he may be.
We have made of Jesus many things which he never ever dreamt even in his wildest of dreams. Was it not the same the Satan placed before him at last and Jesus stoutly denied to be wooed down by such a temptation even (Mt 3:8-10)?
It was only in 1925 Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the king, may be to justify kingship when it was almost crumbling down after the World War I, practically leaving only four kings and that too in the playing cards? A church thrived in the monarchy must be feeling insecure… May be to retain power she needed a strong symbol, unassailable, to safeguard her interests in the institutions around…
Prophet:
Jesus who withdrew from being made into a king (Jn 6:15) and who denied of any kingship comfortably claimed to be a prophet: When the people were astonished at the words and deeds of him who was so familiar with them and took offence at him, Jesus said: “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and among his own kin, in his own house.” (Mk 6:1-5)
When some scribes and Pharisees wished to see some signs from him, Jesus answered, “…no sign shall be given… except the sign of the prophet Jonah…” (Mt 12:38-39) At his entry into Jerusalem all the stirred city’s exclamation the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Mt 21:10-11) “… And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” (Mk 6:15) The two of them heading to Emmaus in their conversation with the visitor answered him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people…” (Lk 24:13-19) The multitude after having been fed from the five loaves and two fish said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” (Jn 6:5-14) A prophet could never be a king…
Youth was Jesus when he laid down his life as a symbol of total self-giving as an antidote against the evils of selfishness/sinfulness. This prophet lived just for 33 years only, a life worth lived… He was at the prime of his youth…
At thirty he appears from nowhere at Jordan to receive baptism from John. With that commences his ‘public’ life of profound compassion for the poor which invited him to strong bonds of solidarity with them eliciting enough of controversies culminating in his crucifixion at Calvary at the age of thirty three, the peak of his youth!
Jesus being a sensitive youth was moved by the abject poverty, neglect and sufferings of the masses. The scriptures call them the ‘anawim’/poor of Yahweh. It was to deliver them that God came down seeing their affliction, hearing their cries, knowing their sufferings. (Ex 3:7-8) Economic constraints were certainly there, but what pained him was their shame and disgrace.
It was his great compassion which led Jesus to mix socially with the ‘lowest of the low’ and identified himself with them. Quite expectedly he set out to liberate them from every form of suffering and anguish… This he exercised through his healings, feedings and feastings and forgiving.
We, the youngsters have no different role than that of Jesus in his youth which consummated with his penultimate sacrifice for the liberation of man from selfishness…
Demographically, today’s India is at its youngest best and has the power to meet any challenge with the collective consciousness and effort of all people, especially young people like Jesus in his days.

Supreme value of youth is incalculable and indescribable.  Youth is the most creative, productive and daring of all life.  The way in which one utilizes this period will decide the nature of the years to come ahead.  Happiness, success, honor and good name all depend upon the way in which it is lived in the here and now. The world has put its faith in you; the elders keep their hopes in you. You can’t but be great.

The essence of true success (not as against failure) is what you make of yourself. It is the conduct of life that you develop, the character you cultivate and the type of person you become... Successful life is one that succeeds in producing an ideal individual, a noble man.  Success is not measured in terms of what all one obtained but of what you become, how you live and what you do.  

Ours is the time when youth is alert and aware and provoked by the happenings around and the stark reality of no values. We are facing incredible challenges:
·         Violence
·         Hunger(1/8) and illiteracy
·         Health and hygiene [dismal sanitation-open defecation- toilets first, temples next]
·         Mobile phones vis-à-vis toilets
-      A time of maximum creativity and productivity…
-      Time for ideal living and living for others… ‘Youth is not synonymous with wisdom but it is always synonymous with honesty and sincerity.’ [-Annie Mascareen – 1902-1963 - felicitating the new speaker A. M. Thomas on 19.05.1951]
-      Time challenging the inequalities and injustices of life… [Annie resigned when one of her cabinet colleagues was found corrupt… speaking on ‘Payment of Salaries and Allowances Bill 1951, on 20.09.1951 she advocated for a simple life style for the members when the poor are suffering…]
-      Time with maximum energy and great adventurism… (Sanju V. Samson…)
Vivekananda:
·         Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached…
·         Give ourselves a noble reason to live, a lofty ideal to live for and a higher state to reach within the boundaries of human existence.
·         Cultivate and nurture the ability to ‘feel’
Supreme value of youth period is incalculable and indescribable.  Youth life is the most precious life.  Youth is the best time.  The way in which you utilize this period will decide the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you.  Your happiness, your success, your honor and your good name all depend upon the way in which you live now, in this present period.

I wish you to be great.  The world has put its faith in you.  Your elders keep their hopes in you.  Now youth means to place your firm confidence in yourself and exercise your hopeful determination and resolution and willing good intentions in this beautiful task of self-culture.  This will truly bring supreme satisfaction and fulfillment not only to you, but also to all concerned.  The shaping of your life is indeed in your own hands.

The essence of true success is what you make of yourself. It is the conduct of life that you develop, it is the character that you cultivate and it is the type of person you become.  This is the central meaning of successful living.  Therefore, you will see this important matter is not so much a question of success in life ( Jivan – Me-  Safalta) but rather it is success of life. Such successful life is one that succeeds in producing an ideal individual, a noble man.  Your success is not measured in terms of what all you obtained but in term of what you become, how you live and what actions you do.  Upon this point reflect well and attain great happiness. 

Robert Kennedy: ‘Youth, rather than a period of life, is ‘a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.’
Chinmayananda: ‘Children (youngsters) are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit…’  Youth are not useless, they are used less
As a pot is known by its content, like milk pot or honey pot, so too a nation, a community is known by its people, especially the young people.
Rumi: ‘Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.’
 ‘Genetics load the gun; life style pulls the trigger…’
-      India is a young nation with its teeming young population…
-      All these many hearts need to beat as one…
-      what really need to be programmed are not the computers, but human minds…
-      For change one needs to be
§  Physically fit
§  Emotionally strong
§  Intellectually refined
§  Culturally rooted
§  And spiritually uplifted.
Abdul Kalam: Why are our leaders harping on our ‘backwardness always? Why are we so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great people.
Strength:
Fighting the elements
Traditional expertise than mechanized
Colachel war
Politics:
·         Annie Mascareen (1902-1963) [Constituent Assembly of India/ Minister/ MP]
·         Lourdammal Simon (1912/ Minister of Fisheries 1957-62 Manakkudi
Bureaucrats:
·         Maria Desalphin IAS 1970s (Rubber Board Chairman/ Ambassodor)
·         Nanjil Kumaran IPS Chennai Commissioner of Police (Now an Asst. Commissioner…)
·         Cyril (Archeology Dir., Pondichery)
Industrialists:
·         Richard Fernandez (Industrialist-Plastic ‘Family Plastics)
·         Johnson S (Pretech)
·         JPR (Muttom Port)
·         Cletus Francis (Media industry - Deepika)
Education:
·         University - Sathyabama/
·         Colleges- Arts and Science, Engineering, Nursing etc
Scientists:
·         Scientists (Betty etc)
·         Mathematicians (Wilfred, Sabu etc.)
Artists:
·         Art (Cinema-William D’Cruz, Vijaya Kumar)
·         Painting Jayan…
·         Music (Arulappan)
Literature:
·         Literary men (G R Edmund, Berguman etc.)
·         Theologian (Fr. Felix Wilfred)
·         UN speakers (Fr. Edwin, on ‘Neighborhood communities, etc…)
Sports and games:
·         Cricket (Sanju Samson)
·         Foot ball (Thomas Sebastian etc.)
·         Shuttle badminton (Gloria Xavier)
Crew:
·         Pilots, Captains and engineers in ships
·         IT and other capabilities and foreign migration
·         Diocesan/Religious heads…
·         Huge investments - Multi-crore churches, halls, rectories and shrines…!
·         VSSC/ISRO, Titanium, Airport, and now Vizhinjam Container Terminal
·         Rather exclusive right over the sea and its resources
·         Shark hunting
·         Cured fish exporters/ seafood processing
·         Rajakkamangalam Port (Village Trust)

·         Abdul Kalam **Matha Amirthananatha Mayi ***Vyasan

They all struggled in an unfriendly and challenging environment. Now, favorable environs could be provided as in a laboratory situation for much higher contribution…

Weakness…
Illiteracy (Trivandrum-coast- along with Malappuram)
Dependency (Kept insulated from the main stream…)
Health and hygiene (open defecation/Karumkulam Panchayat)
The recurring in-fights and the ensuing litigation and so on…
Celebrations, and now the heavy dowry system

A Valiant People:
Fighting with nature so directly and consistently
Colachel War – a victory of its kind with a European force…!

Pope Francis:
Unemployment for youngster and abandonment for the aged are the most worrying realities of the day.
When God sends the prophet Jeremiah, he gives him the power to “pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (1:10). It is the same for you. Bringing the Gospel is bringing God’s power to pluck up and break down evil and violence, to destroy and overthrow the barriers of selfishness, intolerance and hatred, so as to build a new world.
The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. 'Do not be afraid!' When we go to proclaim Christ, it is he himself who goes before us and guides us. When he sent his disciples on mission, he promised: 'I am with you always' (Mt 28:20). And this is also true for us! Jesus does not leave us alone, he never leaves you alone! He always accompanies you.

“Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die.” 
 Herbert Hoover