This week marks the end of the Church liturgical calendar that culminates with the Solemnity of Christ the King. This solemnity was declared by Pope Pius XI in 1925 after the epic battle of World War one. The countries that were involved in the battle were predominantly Christians if not Catholic. As the shepherd of the universal Church he felt obliged to retrospect on the crisis of the time. What really went wrong, if Christians preach peace, love of the neighbor why then are they involved in such a ruthless engagement. The answer to this tragedy was provided in the papal document known as Quas Primas addressing the rise of secularism and nationalism. In a nutshell the Pope intimated that humanity had dethroned God and preferred human ideas. Apparently, communism and fascism are the forces that governed the world by that time.
In the first reading, we encounter people who have completely no regard for the divine. They desecrated the holy by using vessels that were meant for the sacred as objects for entertainment. They had no regard for the sacredness and the holiness that vessels were reserved for. However, God struck with a mighty force when they saw hand inscribing on the wall. Mene Tekel and Peres, in those words the future of King Nebuchadnezzar was sealed. Mene God has numbered your Kingdom and put an end to it. Tekel you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres your Kingdom has been divided and given to Meds and Parsians. King Nebuchadnezzar would later fall from grace to grass to an extent that he was feeding on grass like an animal.
In the Gospel Luke present a picture of the ungodly. They wantonly engage in persecuting Christians as the end approaches. They align the Christians in courts before Kings and governors to humiliate them because of their faith in God. Apparently, Christ assures those faithful not to be afraid because he will provide them in the moment of crisis and great turmoil. The greatest of the gifts are perseverance and wisdom to subdue the adversaries.
There are lessons that we can learn from the word of God today. The first one is that God is the King of heaven and earth. If we dethrone God from his rightful place we brace for complete destruction of our life, family, health, nation, economy etc. In humility we have to let God be God. Saint Augustine would say. “What is it that we have that we never received”. Secondly, God does not take away challenges from us but rather gives us the courage and wisdom to overcome them. Almighty Father we thank you for opportunities you have given us to serve you. We acknowledge you to be the Lord of the universe give us the courage and fortitude serve others for your Kingdom, we acknowledge you to be our God and savior.
Amen
Rev. Fr. James Wambugu Tangaza University College
Saint Thomas More, Patron Saint of Political Leaders; Pray for Us