November 20, 2016  OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
Most Significant Leader  2 Sm 5:1-3; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43
 
The St. Joseph Sunday Missal provides an introduction to each Sunday to give a context for Scripture.
Its 1986 edition says the following in its introduction to the solemnity of Christ the King: "It is vital for any organization to have capable leadership.... That is why we test candidates on their leadership capabilities ... and only if they are honest people do we elect them."
Knowing all controversies we have experienced with our leaders today, whether candidates for office, officials under investigation or elected leaders under indictment, this statement is rather humorous. The fact is that we are willing to choose leaders with very poor backgrounds. Sometimes we are surprised to find out about a politician's past, but sometimes we know about a questionable past, and we elect the individual anyway.
This raises a question that we
must ask: What kind of person do
we want to lead us? How do we want our leaders to conduct themselves, whether they are political, church
or business leaders? Occasionally, as it is today, the primary discussion should not be about leaders themselves. Our reflection should be about ourselves. Who are the people we allow to lead us and why do we make the choices we do? Whom do we allow to form us, shape us and guide us? On this solemnity of Christ the King we would do well to ponder to whom — or to what — we have entrusted our souls and why.
Israel had to deal with the same question. How did they want to be led and by whom? Both the First and Second Book of Samuel chronicle the rise of the monarchy in Israel. God did not want Israel to have a king for God was Israel's head, but the people insisted, and so God consented. To the throne came Saul, a flawed man concerned about power and who grew paranoid enough of his servant David to decide to kill him. David himself eventually assumed the throne, but despite his love for God, David had a man killed in order to take the man's wife. David ultimately repented, but Israel learned something. It learned that we suffer the consequences of the sins of our human leaders.
We know that Jesus is given to us today as a contrast. He is the unblemished leader who has invited us into an unstained kingdom. It is curious, however, that the Church chooses to have us read about the horrible death of our King rather than his triumphant ride in Jerusalem or his resurrection. What do we learn?
In reality we know very little about Jesus. The Gospels contain precious little about his birth, and what is written abounds with conflicting information. We know nothing of what he looked like, what he was like as a child, what he enjoyed doing, or any of the many other things which we know about our leaders today. Even the people who stayed with Jesus throughout his life were hard-pressed to say who Jesus was. Jesus is hardly mentioned in early history; only a couple ancient historians make reference to him. What does this tell us about the Son of God, the one we have chosen to follow as our King?
While the Gospels offer us little details about the life of Jesus, they are not silent about Jesus' message or the impact of his life. The Resurrection made us pay attention, and in death — and because of his death — Jesus the Christ becomes very, very significant.
It is ironic that King David, of whom we know a great deal, has no present impact on our lives. Certainly he has become a symbol,
but he is still just a figure of history. Jesus, however, a man of whom we know less, a man without position or power, and a man who was executed as a criminal, shapes our lives still. So what do we look for? Whom do we trust?
Today we are offered an answer. True leadership is defined by humble service. Even in his dying moments Jesus gave an example of humble service. Mocked by soldiers and a criminal who was dying with him, Jesus never lashed out. Instead, while dying, he reached out to save one more soul, another criminal.
Jesus was a contrast to every notion of leadership and remains so. He led by serving and giving and never from a position of power or prestige. Although we know precious little about him, Jesus continues to affect the world 20 centuries later. Not brash — humble. Not served — servant. Not powerful — only a teacher. Perhaps the most significant leader is the one who teaches us how to lead. So, whom do we chose to follow?