Homily: November 20, 2022, The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

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When David was anointed King, the elders of Israel came to him and said, "Here we are, your bone and your flesh.”

What do they mean?

These words bring us back to the book of Genesis 2:23, when God made woman from the rib of man, Adam exclaimed, “This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she has been taken out of the Man.”

Woman is made the spouse, the companion, the person for man. She is made from him and for him.

And so, for the tribes of Israel to declare themselves the bone and flesh of King David, they were declaring their relationship with him, as his people, his nation. They believed that King David, who saved them from their enemies, will continue to win battles for them. They believed that he was powerful and they will live in greatness under his kingship forever.

But in truth, he was just as human, as weak and as vulnerable to sin as they all were.

In fact, there were altogether forty-two kings who ruled Israel, and all of them ended up being unfaithful to God, except Josiah. All of them died, unable to save themselves, unable to save their people finally, they themselves needed to be saved.

Who is a true king? One who is truly powerful and able to save his people and protect them forever?

God.

God who gave the first man his bones and flesh. God, who was present with the first man and woman, all through their exile from Eden. God, who led his people out of the sufferings of their foolish deeds. God, who gave them kings because they insisted to have one. God, who forgave them time and again for failing to recognize that He is their true King, their Savior, forever and ever.

This King will never fail them in their times of need, will never abandon them in times of trouble, will never give up on them for their repeated unfaithfulness, will never disown them even when they have disowned Him.

This King is God the Son, Jesus Christ.

He is the true King. He is our King. He is the King of kings.

Would we need any other king in our lives?

Yet so many in the world continue to put their trust in humans, sciences, technology, politics, fame and worldly glory and success approved by other humans, and hail them as powerful, reliable and true.

How often have these failed us? How long more are we going to believe in something as human, as weak and as vulnerable as ourselves?The soldiers mocked Jesus on the cross, “If you are king of the Jews, save yourself.”

The unrepentant thief on his way to condemnation, mocked Jesus, who was dying for his redemption, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."

Jesus is not the king of the Jews, He is the King of the Universe. He is the Christ. He did not come to save Himself, He came to save us, the world, and He is doing so, from the beginning of time till the end of time. This King loves you, personally and perfectly.

“He delivers us from the power of darkness…all things were created through him and for him.”

Are you also mocking Jesus on the cross by choosing other people and things as kings in your life…

or are you worshipping Jesus as the one true King now and forever?

Shall we all come before Jesus our Lord now on the cross, who is Christ our King to come in glory, and say to him, “Here we are, your bone and flesh.”

Amen.


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