Tag: #Sylverus Ulem

 

There is a funny but painful contradiction in human life: everybody wants a better society, but not everybody is willing to become a better citizen. We want honest politicians, but we sometimes offer bribes to get what belongs to us. We want responsible parents, but some children refuse to listen to any advice. We want obedient children, but some parents have forgotten that children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. We want holy priests and pastors, but we sometimes encourage them to tell us only what we want to hear. We condemn corruption in government while celebrating it when it works in our favour.

In Nigeria, we are particularly gifted at identifying the sins of others. We know exactly what is wrong with the President, the governor, the local government chairman, the priest, the pastor, the neighbour and even the person selling tomatoes in the market. If criticism were a university degree, many of us would have graduated with first-class honours. Unfortunately, when the same examination is brought to our doorstep, we suddenly become lecturers in the theology of excuses!

This Sunday, the Word of God invites us to stop playing the innocent victim and begin examining our own lives. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel confronts the Israelites over their complaint that God’s ways are unjust. They seem to suggest that their suffering is God’s fault rather than the consequence of their own conduct. But the Lord makes it clear that He does not desire the death of the wicked. Rather, He wants the wicked person to turn away from evil and live. The Lord declares that when a wicked person turns away from wrongdoing and begins to practise justice and righteousness, that person will preserve his life (cf. Ezekiel 18, 27–28).

This passage reveals something fundamental about the nature of God: God’s justice is not opposed to His mercy, and His mercy does not eliminate the need for repentance. God does not condemn a person to remain forever a prisoner of yesterday’s mistakes. He opens the door to conversion, but we must be willing to walk through it. This is good news for anyone who has made terrible mistakes in life. Your past may explain some of your struggles, but it does not have to determine your future. The person who cheated yesterday can become honest today. The person who abandoned the family can begin to take responsibility. The Christian who has lived a double life can begin again through genuine repentance.

In the second reading, St Paul appeals to the Philippians to reject selfish ambition, vanity and the desire to place themselves above others. Instead, they are to act with humility, considering the interests of others and following the example of Christ. Paul then presents Jesus Christ as the supreme model of humility. Though He was in the form of God, He did not cling to His equality with God. He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant and became obedient even to death on a cross (Philippians 2, 6–8).

Unfortunately, our world often defines greatness differently. We measure success by the number of people who stand up when we enter a room, the number of people who call us oga, madam, chief or honourable, and the number of people who must wait for hours before they can see us. In some offices, the person who has the least work to do is the one who insists on being treated like the most important person in the building. Even when a public official is elected to serve the people, the people may soon discover that they must first serve the official’s ego!

However, Christ turns this understanding of greatness upside down. In His kingdom, authority is a responsibility, not a licence for oppression. Leadership is service, not an opportunity to enrich oneself. Humility is not weakness; it is the strength to put love above pride. A father cannot demand respect from his children while treating their mother with contempt. A mother cannot teach honesty while encouraging a child to lie for convenience. A religious leader cannot preach sacrifice while using the suffering of the congregation to satisfy personal ambition

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a father who asks his two sons to go and work in his vineyard. The first son refuses, saying, “I will not,” but later changes his mind and goes. The second son responds, “Certainly, sir,” but fails to go. Jesus then asks which of the two did the father’s will. The answer is obvious: the first son. One disappointed his father with his words but pleased him with his eventual obedience. The other pleased his father with his words but disappointed him with his disobedience.

Jesus uses this story to challenge the religious leaders who appeared righteous but refused to respond to God’s call, while tax collectors and prostitutes were turning towards the kingdom through repentance. The lesson is not that sin is good or that public sinners should be celebrated for their past wrongdoing. Rather, Jesus teaches that genuine conversion matters more than a reputation for righteousness.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is the temptation to substitute religious language for religious obedience. We can sing, “Take my life and let it be,” and still refuse to surrender our anger, dishonesty or pride to God. We can pray for peace while nursing hatred against our neighbours. We can shout “Holy Ghost fire!” against our enemies while refusing to reconcile with members of our own family. The problem is not that we pray too much. It is that we sometimes pray without allowing God’s Word to challenge our behaviour.

Perhaps you are reading this reflection and remembering decisions you regret. Perhaps you have disappointed your family, betrayed someone’s trust or lived for years in contradiction to your Christian profession. Do not allow shame to convince you that conversion is impossible. The first reading assures us that the wicked person who turns away from wrongdoing can live. The Gospel shows us that the son who initially refused his father’s command could still change his mind and do what was required of him. God’s mercy is not a reward reserved for people who have never failed. It is a gift that invites sinners to return to Him.

May our words and deeds become one, so that the Christianity we profess on Sunday will be visible in our homes, offices, markets, schools, churches and public institutions throughout the week. Amen

Fr. Ulem

 

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
One thing that is clear, obvious and certain is that God does not share in our calculation. God’s calculator is always different from our calculator.

Sometimes, we are too quick to conclude. We have already arrived at the answer and are ready to put the total, but God is still calculating. We conclude that something is finished, while God is still working. We conclude that a person has failed, while God is still writing the person’s story. We conclude that God has forgotten us, while God is still calculating.

Dear people of God, this is one of the reasons why we sometimes go against God or fail to recognise Him when we need Him most: God does not calculate the way we calculate.

One of the funniest things about human beings is that we like to calculate everything. Even those who failed mathematics calculate everything. We calculate how to survive. We say, “I have this amount of money. I will use this much for this, manage this much for that, and hopefully I will still have something left to cook.”

Sometimes, we even calculate God’s goodness. We see someone and say, “God has really blessed this person.”
We see another person and say, “God does not seem to bless this one.” But who gave us the calculator with which we measure God’s blessings?

The first reading today has settled the matter: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” When you begin to place God according to the limits of your thoughts and standards, God often surprises you because He is not using your calculator.

Sometimes we calculate who has suffered more, who arrived first, who has served God longer, who has prayed more, and who therefore deserves to be rewarded more. We even look at people’s outward religious practices and begin to calculate their relationship with God.

Someone carries a rosary, a crucifix and a prayer book, and we say, “This person must be very prayerful.” You enter somebody’s room and see an altar beautifully arranged with Mary, angels, candles and other religious objects, and immediately you conclude, “This person must really be close to God.”

That is human calculation. Sometimes, even our prayers become like an application submitted to the Human Resources Department. We pray and say, “Lord, I have been doing this for three months. By the end of these three months, I must receive this particular thing.” We begin to calculate our prayers, our sacrifices and our service to God as though we are negotiating a contract with Him.

But the readings of today invite us to confront one divine truth: The operational system of God is different from our own. That is the painful truth that all of us must realise today. The prophet Isaiah tells us: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”

This statement challenges our entire understanding of God. We want God to behave according to our understanding of fairness. We think justice means giving everyone exactly what we think they deserve. But God’s justice and judgement are rooted in His own ways.

Look at the forgiveness of God. We forgive, but sometimes we keep the incident in our mental archive. We say, “I have forgiven you,” but we remember the date, the time, the place and everything that happened! But when God forgives, He does not continue calculating the offence against us. That is the greatness of God’s mercy.

The readings of today are also very important for us in Nigeria. Human beings can easily write people off.

A person fails examinations and comes from a poor background, and we immediately begin to calculate the person’s future. We say, “This one will not amount to anything.” But God does not calculate that way.

There are people who did not succeed academically, people who did not pass their examinations, yet they followed a politician who appointed them as councillors. Before you know it, they became chairmen. And you who succeeded academically are still struggling.

Some of the people you go to visit on Christmas Day may not have certificates, yet they are the ones feeding you. You are praying with your certificates, while you are still looking for a job. When you were growing up, you had already calculated how your life would be. You thought you would become this, achieve that and arrive before somebody else. But life has a way of reminding us that God is the one holding the calculator.

The person you thought would never succeed may surprise you. The person you thought would never survive may still be standing. The person you thought had no future may become a source of blessing to others.

The God revealed to us in Scripture is constantly calling people back to Himself. Mary was not chosen because she had achieved everything according to human standards. The apostles were not selected because they had perfect CVs. God has a habit of surprising people. Why? Because His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Some of us have looked at people in the hospital and, from what we saw, concluded that they might not survive. But God surprised us. They are alive and are even worshipping with us today. Some of us see the mistakes of others and begin to behave as though those people are no longer human beings. But remember, “My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.”

St Paul, in the second reading, teaches us something very important about living for Christ. Our lives must ultimately be directed towards Christ, not towards comparison with other people.

Then Jesus gives us the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some workers came in the morning, while others came later in the day.

Imagine, as a priest, I go to the junction in the morning and hire workers. Then I return in the evening and hire another group. At the end of the day, I pay everybody the same amount. If I pass that same junction the next day, they will call me many names!

But Jesus is showing us something deeper. This parable exposes a lot about us. Sometimes we feel that our reward from God should depend on how long we have been serving Him. Some people believe that because they have spent many years in the Church, they should have a special chair in the Church. We calculate our years of service. We calculate our sacrifices. We calculate our prayers. We calculate our contributions. And then we begin to calculate what God owes us.

But something very important happens at the end of the parable. Jesus asks. “What is wrong with me giving the last person the same amount I gave you? Do I not have the right to use what belongs to me?” That is the question God is asking us today. Why are you angry because I have blessed someone else? Why are you disturbed because another person received what you were expecting? Why do you think another person’s blessing reduces your own?

My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus exposes something important in us. We are interested in comparative advantage. We are happy when something good happens to us. But when the same good thing happens to somebody else, we become jealous. We compare the blessings of God. We compare our marriages. We compare our children. We compare our jobs. We compare our houses. We compare our achievements. We compare our progress. And sometimes, without saying a word, we can even pray for somebody’s downfall.

That is why the Gospel reading invites us to stop measuring our lives against the lives of other people. Stop comparing yourself with other people. Whatever God has given you, manage it well. Be grateful for it.

Many people are suffering today because they began with the life that was theirs, but later they started measuring their lives against somebody else’s life. They saw another person’s house. Another person’s car. Another person’s marriage. Another person’s children. Another person’s success. And suddenly, their own blessing no longer looked like a blessing.

Dear brothers and sisters, nobody can collect what belongs to you. What God has destined for you does not become yours by comparing yourself with another person. So stop distracting yourself with the blessings of others. Celebrate when another person succeeds. Celebrate the joy of others without interpreting their joy as your own loss. If God blesses somebody today, it does not mean that God has forgotten you. If someone arrives before you, it does not mean that your journey has ended. If somebody receives something before you, it does not mean that God has cancelled your own portion. Remember, God is still calculating.

Let us therefore seek the Lord while He may be found. Let us trust His ways. Let us surrender our calculations to Him. Let us learn to celebrate the joy of others without seeing it as our own loss. Let us stop comparing ourselves with one another. And let us remember that the calculator of God is not the calculator of man.

May God help us to become what He truly wants us to be. May He give us the grace to trust His timing, accept His ways, rejoice in the blessings of others, and never depart from His path.

Amen.

Compiled By Elijah Ugani

 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s liturgy invites us to discover where true peace and lasting rest are found.

We live in a world marked by economic uncertainty, violence, and fear. Yet God’s Word assures us of His presence and His peace. Nations are in conflict with one another. Families are divided. In a country like Nigeria, where economic hardship often makes it difficult for us even to care for one another, God’s Word still offers us hope and reminds us that He has not abandoned His people.

One of the most comforting statements in today’s Gospel comes directly from Jesus Himself: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.”

This is one of the rare occasions where Jesus speaks about His own heart. He invites us to learn from Him because He is gentle and humble. Even while hanging on the Cross, after suffering rejection, humiliation, and torture, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” What an extraordinary example of meekness and humility.

My dear people of God, Jesus teaches us to remain humble even in the face of exploitation, abuse, rejection, and injustice.

Today, many people say, “If you provoke me, my anger will destroy you.” Such reactions often come from hearts weighed down by pain, frustration, and disappointment. Because our hearts are troubled, many negative thoughts find their way into them.

But Jesus invites us to learn from His heart, to remain gentle and humble. A humble heart speaks words that bring peace rather than conflict. A gentle heart heals instead of hurting.

The invitation of Jesus is universal. He calls every one of us because every one of us carries one burden or another.

Some people carry burdens in their families. Others struggle in their workplaces, businesses, marriages, or personal lives. Some burdens are simply part of life. Illness, old age, bereavement, and economic hardship are natural burdens that come with our human condition. But other burdens are created by human beings.

The rising cost of food and basic necessities has become a heavy burden for many families. During the time of Jesus, religious leaders often placed unnecessary burdens on the people through rigid interpretations of the law. Today, we still see people creating burdens for others through injustice, corruption, exploitation, and selfishness.

Sometimes, the little kindness we ought to show one another becomes another source of pain. Instead of solving problems, we create more. As the saying goes, “The message they sent you never reached its destination, and it never returned to the sender.”

Against this background, Jesus presents Himself not as another burden, but as our rest. His invitation comes from a heart that is gentle and humble.

Many of today’s heaviest burdens are humanly created. There are directors and officials who exploit young women seeking employment. Some lecturers demand sexual favours from students before awarding them the grades they deserve.

Think of the pain of parents whose children are kidnapped because of insecurity and the failure of leadership. Think of the wounds caused by harsh and careless words.

Before you make someone cry, remember that tears are the most expensive liquid on earth. They may contain only one percent water, but they carry ninety-nine percent emotions. How often do we say hurtful things to our neighbours, only to return later with a simple “I’m sorry”?

As a wife, have you considered the burdens you may place on your husband through constant quarrels and unreasonable pressure?As a husband, have you considered the burdens you place upon your wife by neglecting her emotional and spiritual needs? As children, have you considered the shame and extra burden you have placed on your parents?

As an employer or supervisor, have you reflected on the burdens you impose on your employees through exploitation or injustice? As a politician, have you considered the burdens your decisions place upon the people you were elected to serve?

The first reading from the Book of Zechariah presents God’s promise to restore a broken and burdened people. The prophet announces the coming of a humble King who will bring peace, not through violence or oppression, but through justice, humility, and salvation.

Sadly, our society continues to carry many heavy burdens. Young graduates bear the burden of unemployment. Families worry daily about what they will eat tomorrow. Many feel abandoned by those entrusted with leadership.

We may experience disappointment with those who govern us, but our hope does not rest in human leaders alone. Our confidence remains in God, who never forgets His people. At the fullness of His time, He will surely come to our aid.

My dear brothers and sisters, we learn from Jesus by helping to carry one another’s burdens. We lessen the burden of hunger by feeding the hungry. We lessen the burden of homelessness by welcoming the stranger. We lessen the burden of our students by giving them encouragement instead of demanding money or immoral favours in exchange for success.

Each of us must ask: Am I making life easier for those around me?
Do people feel relieved when they encounter me, or do they become afraid? Does my presence increase the burdens of others, or does it lighten them?

As followers of Christ, we are called not only to bring our own burdens to Him but also to help carry the burdens of others.

As we celebrate this Holy Eucharist today, let us renew our commitment to lead others to Christ. Let us become signs of hope, peace, compassion, and mercy. Let us show those who have lost their way the path back to Jesus.

When we do this, our families, our communities, our nation, and indeed our world will become better places for all.

May Christ, who is gentle and humble of heart, give us rest and teach us to become instruments of His peace.

Peace be with you.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here strictly that of the Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation he works for/with.

 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The message of today can be summarized in one call: reach out to the left out. There are many people around us who have been abandoned, neglected, or forgotten by society, institutions, and even by those closest to them. As Christians, we are called to reach out to such people with love, compassion, and mercy.

On this Eleventh Sunday, the Church reminds us of our identity and mission as the people of God. The first call God gives to us is the call to belong to Him. God desires that we be His people. To be called God’s people is a special privilege, but it also comes with responsibility. If we are truly God’s people, we must listen to His voice and remain faithful to Him.

The second aspect of God’s call is discipleship. Before Jesus chose the Twelve Apostles, many people followed Him. Yet He selected certain individuals and entrusted them with a special mission. In the same way, God calls each of us not only to belong to Him but also to become His disciples and witnesses.

In the First Reading, we hear how God chose the people of Israel as His own and promised to guide them toward their destiny. However, this covenant relationship came with a condition: they were to remain faithful to Him. God’s promise of guidance and protection was linked to their faithfulness.

The same is true for us today. It is not enough to say that God has called us. We must respond to that call through faithful living. God is not asking us to impress Him with great achievements or extraordinary sacrifices. Some people think that God can be pleased merely by offering gifts, performing rituals, or making grand displays of devotion. But God, who is the Creator and source of all things, cannot be enriched by anything we give Him.
What God desires is our faithfulness.

He calls us to obey His commandments and to become more like Him. Since we are created in His image and likeness, we are called to live, think, and act as He does. How do we do this? Through love. The entire law of God is summarized in the commandment of love.

God welcomes all people regardless of tribe, culture, language, or background. That is why we gather together as one family in worship. As God’s children, we too must learn to welcome and love others without discrimination.

Even when His people fail, God does not abandon them. Throughout the history of Israel, God remained faithful despite their unfaithfulness. He continually sought them out and called them back to Himself.

The same is true for us. Like the people of the Old Testament, we often make promises to God and then fail to keep them. We stumble, fall, and go astray. Yet God remains faithful because His nature never changes.

God has not changed; it is we who have changed. We may drift away from Him, neglect our spiritual lives, or abandon our commitments, but He remains constant. Whether we are faithful or not, God continues to wait for us with open arms.

Therefore, I remind you today: God is waiting for you. Return to Him. Change your ways and allow His grace to transform your life.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds us of God’s unfailing faithfulness. As proof of His love, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. God never abandoned humanity because He had chosen us to be His people.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to continue His mission. We live in a society where many people feel abandoned, helpless, and forgotten. God calls us to minister to these people and become instruments of His love.

Charity must begin at home. You cannot neglect the people in your own household and then expect your acts of charity elsewhere to please God. If we ignore those closest to us while trying to appear generous in church and public, we miss the true meaning of Christian service.

We must begin by caring for those around us, our families, neighbors, employees, friends, and all who depend on us.

Each Christian has a unique calling. Through Baptism, we have received a new identity in Christ. Just as Jesus called each Apostle by name and entrusted each with a particular mission, He calls each of us to serve Him in a unique way.

Part of this mission is to show mercy to those who have failed. Often, those who have disappointed us are the very people who need our compassion the most. Instead of helping them rise again, we sometimes condemn and reject them.

As followers of Christ, we must remember that God does not define people by their failures. He sees their dignity and their potential for renewal. We are called to do the same.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus looked upon the crowds and saw that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He was moved with compassion. He did not think about what He could gain from them; instead, He thought about how He could help them.

Sadly, there are times when people exploit those who are vulnerable. Even some religious leaders may be tempted to seek personal gain rather than genuine service.

Jesus gives us a different example. He teaches us to serve people selflessly and to care for their needs.

When influential people enter our churches or communities, our responsibility is not to flatter them for personal benefit but to remind them of their duty to serve others and work for justice.

Today’s message is simple: whenever we encounter people, let us not focus merely on their problems or weaknesses. Let us see an opportunity to help, heal, and uplift them.

Jesus also instructed His disciples to begin their mission among their own people. This teaches us an important lesson: before we seek to change the world, we must first allow God to change us.

We cannot effectively preach conversion if we refuse to confront our own faults. Many people want to change others while neglecting their own families, habits, and attitudes. True evangelization begins with personal conversion.

Therefore, let us begin in our homes. Let us examine our own lives, seek God’s grace, and strive to become faithful disciples. Then we will be able to bring others closer to Christ.

May God grant us the courage to answer His call, the grace to remain faithful, and the compassion to reach out to those who have been left out.

May His word dwell richly in our hearts through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 

I titled this reflection Come Out. It would have been fitting to call it Lazarus, but the time of Lazarus has passed. I leave the title open, so that you can come out yourself.

When Jesus called Lazarus, His mission was specific: “Lazarus, come out.” But today, from this pulpit, that same call is extended to everyone. Whenever you hear the words come out, it is both an invitation and a command. It may mean: come out and effect change. It may also mean: come out from where you are not supposed to be. There are places we find ourselves that are not meant for us, places of sin, compromise, and moral confusion. When God says “come out,” He is calling us away from those places. The phrase come out involves two people, the one who calls, and the one who responds. It is a command you cannot command yourself. God is the one calling, and we are the ones invited to respond. My dear people of God, the Word of God speaks directly to our situations. It carries the power to bring life where there is decay.

In today’s Gospel, Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. According to Jewish belief, there was still hope within the first few days of death, but after four days, all hope was gone. Yet Jesus came at that moment to show that even when human hope ends, divine possibility begins. That is why Martha said, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection.” And Mary and Martha wept bitterly. When Jesus saw them, He wept.
Jesus did not weep because death existed, but because of the depth of human pain and struggling faith. His tears show that He shares in our suffering. Death, in itself, is not the ultimate problem, it is a necessary passage of life. But God’s power goes beyond even death.

In the first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, the dry bones represent a people who had lost identity and hope. God asked: “Can these bones live?” He brought the prophet to a valley, a place of depression, a low point, to show that even from the lowest place, restoration is possible. No matter your situation, you too will rise again.

In the Gospel, we see another form of “dry bones” a family that had lost their only hope. Lazarus was everything to Mary and Martha. When he died, it felt like everything was lost. They said, “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.”

We can say the same today, Lord, if you had been here, our nation would not be like this. Lord, if you had been here, insecurity would not be rising. Lord, if you had been here, things would be different. But even in that pain, we remember the shortest verse in Scripture: “Jesus wept.” This shows that God is not distant, He suffers with us.

Today, however, we see confusion even in the Gospel being preached. Some preach for gain, turning the altar into a marketplace. Truth is fading, and hope seems buried. But the message remains simple, the God who raised Lazarus can restore us. However, there is a condition, we must surrender to Him. Before Lazarus came out, people had to roll away the stone. Jesus performed the miracle, but human beings removed the obstacle.

So we must ask ourselves: what are the stones blocking us today? In our nation, injustice, bribery, and corruption. In our personal lives, hatred, jealousy, gossip, addiction. After Lazarus came out, Jesus said, “Unbind him.” Again, it required community effort.

Transformation is both divine and human. God raises but we must cooperate. Come out of sin. Come out of hatred. Come out of addiction. Come out of hopelessness.

Even when it feels like God is late as it seemed with Lazarus remember this. He is never late. He works beyond human timing.
He loved Lazarus, yet He delayed so that a greater glory could be revealed. Your life is not too late. Your purpose is not lost.

Your situation is not beyond restoration.
When God calls, respond.

Come out and live again.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Sylverus Ulem and does not represent Theluminenews, or its agent or the organisation the author works for/with

LET CHRIST REIGN OVER YOU By Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem

…. Being a sermon delivered during second Mass (9:00am) at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogboja – Ogoja.

34th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

My dear people of God,
When we allow Jesus to reign over us, our society becomes a better place. Many times, the stagnation we experience, individually and collectively is because we have not truly allowed Christ to take His rightful place in our hearts.

From the beginning, God created us with one primary rule, that good be done. The Ten Commandments came later as guidance, but the heart of God for us has always been goodness, love, and obedience.

Christ the Universal King
On this 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church celebrates Christ the Universal King, a feast instituted by Pope Pius XI. This celebration is a public proclamation that Jesus is the King of the universe and, by implication, the King of our lives.

God created everything out of nothing. Jesus is the center of our being, the foundation on which everything stands. Without Him, everything collapses back into nothingness.

In David, the people saw a worthy servant. He did not campaign or write manifestos; instead, the people recognized the qualities of leadership in him. When we humble ourselves, God reveals Himself in us. Every true leader carries the “flesh and bone” of the people, he arises from among them and must protect and guide them.

A king who cannot protect his people has failed in his duty. Today, we see many leaders more concerned with power than service. Political defections, power struggles, and the hunger for influence remind us that many seek authority without embracing responsibility. But Scripture tells us, all power comes from God, and any power not rooted in God will eventually collapse.

Today we see apostles, evangelists, bishops, prophets, all kinds of titles, yet confusion persists. Some pursue titles more than service; some even fight or kill to protect these positions. But any title without corresponding responsibility is useless.
Whether priest, bishop, parent, or leader if we carry the name without carrying the corresponding responsibility, we have failed.

Pilate and the Jews conspired out of ignorance, yet their actions fulfilled God’s plan of salvation. Our celebration today is not a mockery of Christ, but a recognition of His kingship expressed through the cross.

There are three crosses in life:
The cross we accept, it serves us.
The cross we reject, it condemns us.
The cross we willingly carry, it redeems us.

Christ’s Kingship vs. Earthly Leadership
Christ is the model of all kings and leaders. He thinks of His people, loves them, and serves them like a good Shepherd. He treats us as brothers and sisters. Many leaders today make promises they do not keep, feeding on the people rather than feeding the people. But Jesus is the King who feeds His subjects, who gives His life for them.
He left the riches of heaven to share in our poverty so that we might become rich. Yet today we often see leaders who rise from poverty only to feed on the riches of their people.

He had no social media account, yet He has the largest followers in history. Many today expose themselves online simply to gain followers and earn small payments, forgetting their dignity.

There is no protocol to access Jesus. He was like a parish priest whose parishioners could freely approach Him. Sadly, even we priests sometimes fail in this area. When a rich man arrives at the parish house we often rush to welcome him, but when a poor man comes, we sometimes turn him away.
May God help us to change.

As we celebrate Christ the Universal King, may He truly reign over our hearts, our families, our communities, and our nation.

May His peace fill our lives, now and always.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.