By Brendan Walsh
There is something so assuring about today’s feast day of ‘Christ the King’. It is not hard to be overwhelmed by all the difficulties our world is presently facing. Fears and anxieties filter down through society to families as well as individuals.
We desperately seek hope. We trust in good political leadership often only to feel disappointed, our peace stolen by greed, our happiness disrupted by mounting pressures. Is there anyone we can trust who has the power to lead justly in the interest of all?
Today we are celebrating the feast of ‘Christ The King’. Surely there must be thoughts going through our minds. A King is all-powerful; he controls everything and is defender and shepherd of His subjects – His people.
So why does our world suffer so much from greed and exploitation?
When questioned by Pilate, Jesus stated clearly that His Kingdom is not of this world. As Christians, when we switch our focus from seeking God’s Kingdom to the Kingdom of this world, we are inevitably opting to live and survive within the corruption of this world.
We may still consider ourselves Christian – yet without fully realizing it, God’s Kingdom becomes something we believe is a place we enter after death. God remains at a distance from our ordinary existence; we may call on Him more as a backup when we find ourselves in difficulty.
The Kingdom of the world without the inclusion of God is corrupt – to survive according to its terms leaves us in a state of great anxiety, fear. We become victims of its imperfections and, in the process of survival, lose our way if not our sense of hope.
Jesus encourages us to reverse the process. He states;
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In other words, I will take care of you.
(Matthew 6:33).
The truth is that when we place Jesus first in our life when we acknowledge Him as King of our life, our families, He leads us and, in doing so, gives us exactly what we need. God’s Kingdom becomes activated in the here and now for those who seek Him.
The world may present us with anxiety; Christ protects us from its worst effects; though the world may try and steal our hope, God establishes us in hope, though we may find ourselves overwhelmed by situations in life, Christ makes a way where there is no way. He creates peace in our hearts even amid chaos. He reveals His plans for our good, not for our destruction.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)
When we seek first God’s Kingdom, we can experience for ourselves the reality of His Kingly promises to us. We quickly learn that we can trust Him.
When we honestly ask Jesus to be King of our life, we willingly submit ourselves to His authority. When we find ourselves in a place of uncertainty, losing hope, or even at a point of despair, we ask where God is and why he is not helping us. Let us ponder a little on the Kingdom we have chosen. The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of this world.
Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46)
Sincerely ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all will be well.
