THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD

20151122 THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Readings at Mass

First reading

Daniel 7:13-14 ©

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,

one like a son of man.

He came to the one of great age

and was led into his presence.

On him was conferred sovereignty,

glory and kingship,

and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.

His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty

which shall never pass away,

nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Psalm

Psalm 92:1-2,5 ©

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;

  the Lord has robed himself with might,

  he has girded himself with power.

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

The world you made firm, not to be moved;

  your throne has stood firm from of old.

  From all eternity, O Lord, you are.

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

Truly your decrees are to be trusted.

  Holiness is fitting to your house,

  O Lord, until the end of time.

The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.

Second reading

Apocalypse 1:5-8 ©

Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. This is the truth. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’ says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

Gospel Acclamation

Mk11:10

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 18:33-37 ©

‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked. Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.’ ‘So you are a king then?’ said Pilate. ‘It is you who say it’ answered Jesus. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: DANIEL 7:13-14; PS 92:1-2,5; REV 1:5-8; JOHN 18:33-37

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.  The whole mission of Christ on earth was to proclaim and establish the Kingdom of God.  His message was focused on the Kingdom of God.  All His miracles were signs that the Kingdom of God is here.  In words and in deeds, Jesus was saying that the reign of God is here.  He has won victory over Satan and His kingdom.  Rightly so at the end of the Church’s liturgical year, it is appropriate that we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King because in Himself and in principle, He has established the rule of God on earth by His life, passion, death and resurrection.  This is the theme of all the three readings.

What, then, is the nature of Christ’s kingdom?  This was the question Pilate asked.  This is the question those in political or economic power also asks today.  To speak of Christ the King is alarming as it did for the Romans.   So it is not surprising that some political powers think that the Church is a threat to their powers.  They think that the Church wants to wrestle power from the governments and the world.  To this question, Jesus states in no uncertain terms, “Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.”   Today’s mass invites us to reflect on the work of evangelization with respect to the Church’s role in a society that is multi-racial and multi-religious ruled by a secular government.

Pope Emeritus Benedict in His first encyclical, God is Love, wrote, “The just ordering of society and the State is a central responsibility of politics.  As Augustine once said, a State which is not governed according to justice would be just a bunch of thieves.” Fundamental to Christianity is the distinction between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God (cf. Mt 22:21), in other words, the distinction between Church and State, or, as the Second Vatican Council puts it, the autonomy of the temporal sphere.” (Deus Caritas Est, No 28)  So the Kingdom of Christ is not an earthly, political or an economic Kingdom.  The Church harbors no political intention.  She does not align herself with any political parties, social pressure groups or secular organizations.  

What does this spiritual kingdom entail?  This kingdom is not defined in territorial and material terms.   The Kingdom of God is the rule or the reign of God in the hearts and minds of our people.  But it is not an ideology, like some economic or political systems e.g. Marxism, or for that matter, capitalism.  It is not based on some speculation or theory. This kingdom seeks to establish justice and love based on truth so that all can live in peace and harmony with each other.  In this area, religion and politics overlap because both seek justice based on truth.  Again, Pope Benedict aptly commented, “Justice is both the aim and the intrinsic criterion of all politics. Politics is more than a mere mechanism for defining the rules of public life: its origin and its goal are found in justice, which by its very nature has to do with ethics. The State must inevitably face the question of how justice can be achieved here and now.” ((Deus Caritas Est, No 28)

What, then, is the basis of ensuring justice in the country and in society?  What is the norm of justice?  This was the question Pilate asked Jesus, “So what is truth?” Is it based on pragmatism, because it is convenient and most people like it?  Is truth a matter of popular consensus based on democracy? This is so particularly with regard to the questions of same-sex union, abortion and euthanasia. If so, then truth is determined by the whims and fancies of people!  Isn’t this what moral relativism is saying? By claiming this to be the case, are not relativists saying truth has no objectivity? Truth is decided by a straw poll and the likes of people?  Could there be justice not based on truth?

The danger lies when leaders lack spiritual wisdom and have no norms and basis for their actions and policies.  Many are more like Pilate, led by the people instead of being shepherds, guiding and leading the people under their charge.  So for the sake of popularity, expediency and wanting to please everyone, they seek to be pragmatic, go for short term gains and interests but not looking at the long term implications for the policies that they implement.  This was the trap that Pilate fell into.  He wanted to please the people at all costs even though he knew that Jesus was innocent.  But to satisfy the people and protect his political position, he would compromise and bend the rules.  Isn’t it true for some of our secular leaders?  They lack the courage and will to do what is right and good, not just for the people today but for the greater good of the future generation.

This is where the Church steps in as the moral spokesman of humanity.  The duty and mission of the Church is to proclaim the truth so that justice and love will prevail.  Truth is not subjective but must be founded on eternal values that are unchangeable over time.  The principles of right living cannot change if these were true.  Hence, the norms of justice of the Church are based on truth.  Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, proclaims to us the truth of justice and love.  Christ for us is the measure and standard of truth.  The gospel He proclaimed is universal because the values that He taught us are applicable to everyone, namely, justice, love and peace.  That is why Jesus told Pilate, “Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.”

So, only in this sense, can the Kingdom of God impact the kingdom of the world.  The moral principles of the gospel would have indirect impact on the policies of those in political and economic powers.  Once again, citing from the encyclical of Pope Benedict, he said, “This is where Catholic social doctrine has its place: it has no intention of giving the Church power over the State.  Even less is it an attempt to impose ways of thinking and modes of conduct proper to faith on those who do not share the faith. Its aim is simply to help purify reason and to contribute to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just.  The Church’s social teaching argues on the basis of reason and natural law, namely, on the basis of what is in accord with the nature of every human being. The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest.”

As Catholics, all of us by virtue of our baptism, have been made a royal, priestly and prophetic people.  “He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.”   It is therefore the duty of every Catholic to establish the kingdom of justice, love and peace wherever they are.  The New Evangelization demands that Catholics permeate the world with the values of the gospel in the areas of politics, economics, mass media, social, family and education.  The mission of the laity is in the world, wherever they are.  Hence, to ensure that the Kingdom is established in the world, it is critical that our Catholics take part in politics.  We need convicted Catholics in Civil Service, in Medicine, Education, Media, business and economy so that we can ensure that the universal values of the gospel will be upheld in every area of human life, eternal values that serve justice, truth and love.  Catholics, whilst not imposing their faith on society, should announce the gospel of justice and peace which is based on universal values.  It is the responsibility of Catholics to speak out as individuals based on reason purified by faith for the good of the country.  In and out of season, all of us have a grave responsibility to see that the National Pledge of building one united people based on justice, equality is fulfilled.

Consequently, as Catholics involved in the proclamation of truth, justice and love, we must listen first to Jesus and know Him before we can be engaged in the mission.  The danger is that many Catholics who are not founded on the social doctrine of the Church transform the Church’s social mission into another political or ideological cause.  There is a grave possibility that if we are not careful, other organizations with political or ideological motives and self-interests can make use of the Church for their own political causes.  We must be vigilant and not allow the Church to be used by any organization or worldly powers.

Of course, more than just proclaiming the truth in words, we need to proclaim the truth by our lives.  Instead of cursing the darkness, let us always bring light.  We must show ourselves to be walking in the truth by building faithful and loving marriages, strong and cohesive families, contributive to society whether as volunteers in NGOs or Church organizations serving the poor and the needy or as professionals, politicians, civil servants and workers, working for the good of the peoples, for progress and unity among all, regardless of race, language or religion. The language of love is universal to all.

By so doing, like the early Christians and Christ Himself, we might be persecuted for the cause of justice and truth.  Like Him, we must be ready to be witnesses and shed our blood and make sacrifices for the greater good of our people and the future of humanity.  So let us take courage!   The scripture readings assure us that God will triumph at the end of time.  He will be the judge of History.  He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the consummation.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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