Opening Prayer:
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save humankind, whom you formed from the dust!
Rex Gentium– the King of the Nations
O Come, Desire of the nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid every strife and quarrel cease and fill the world with heaven’s peace
Isaiah 2:4
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Daniel 7:14
To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.
Romans 15:12
Again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’
Ephesians 2:14, 20
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Reflection by Father Coutts
O King of the Gentiles
In countries where democracy exists, the idea of a king does not hold much interest. We are not prone to bowing and kneeling before another human or using titles like Your Royal Highness. Furthermore we do not want to give up our free will or control of our lives.
But as this messianic title: King of the Gentiles is given to Jesus – we know none of the above applies. His Kingdom is in the tradition of David who was shepherd and King. The Kingdom of Jesus was incomprehensible to Pilate. Jesus assured him that his was not a Kingdom of this world, nor was it one of violence.
In fact the Christ, as the King of the Gentiles does not use coercion, but rather invites those who want to freely join. Each person has the choice to join or opt out. It is a Kingdom in which there is no corruption, no nepotism, no clique of cronies helping each other to pad their bank accounts. On the contrary, this King of the Gentiles – invites you to sell all, give it to the poor and come follow him. Once you have done so, there is no turning back.
This King is the cornerstone, the lynch pin that holds his followers together. His disciples, his apostles, those who believe in him are held in unity because of Him. Their love is to be shown in service and then some. The Kingdom is open to all, no restrictions, no demands, and no dues. The only condition is a desire to be holy and follow in the footsteps of this Shepherd-King. He will go after the sheep that is lost, the one that strays, the one who wanted to return – this one would be accepted back, with no questions asked.
If there was a condition, it was that each should go out into the highways and byways and invite others to join and savour the peace, the comfort and joy that is the outcome of this community.
Pope Francis said (Nov 26,2013) “I prefer a church that is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out in the streets, rather than in the church which is unhealthy from being confined which is unhealthy from clinging to its own security.
This King as Wisdom was there are the beginning of creation. He saw us humans created out of the dust of the earth. He now invites to a new level of being – not just human, but divine. He is the Word who has come into the world. All those who received this Word were given power to become children of God.
Examen: Have I realized this great invitation? And answered it? Name three persons I have invited to this Kingdom.
