This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. When Jesus was crucified, a wooden sign was nailed over his head with the inscription INRI, which in Latin means “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” (Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews).

People from Ilocos Norte like myself claim affinity to Jesus because INRI means for them “Ilocos Norte Region I.”

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Anyway, we ask: Is Christ really a king? When Jesus stood before Pilate, he was asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

Christ did not deny that He was indeed a king. But then He said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world" (Jn 18:36). Jesus' reply means He was not the kind of king Pilate imagined: A military or political ruler but a spiritual one.

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A story is told that when Joseph Stalin, supreme head of the Central Communist Party of Russia, heard about the pope's estate and Swiss guards, he asked sarcastically: "How many divisions of soldiers does the pope have?"

Learning of Stalin's sarcastic remark, the pope is quoted to have said, "Tell my son Joseph that he'll find out in the next life."

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Christ's kingdom implies not just a place but God's active rule or reign in people’s hearts from which their motives, values, and attitudes originate. That’s why Christ declared: "The kingdom of God is within you." Meaning, if people’s hearts and attitudes are truthful, just, honest, caring, then God’s kingdom is there.

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The questions are, “Is Christ the king in our country, in our homes and communities?”

Are our society and families permeated by the kingdom values of justice, love, and peace?

And why is God's kingdom so slow in coming as is evident from so much hatred, injustice, greed, killings, and kidnappings we see around us?

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The answer is that we are not carrying out our task as well as we should. We are not doing our task of completing the kingdom as well as we could be doing it.

Take just one example. How many of us live out God’s commandments? You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. So much lies, slander, political demolition.

Our failure to live God’s commands is the principal reason God’s Kingdom in the world is far from being realized.

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Rather than get discouraged, we are called to be cooperators with God in bringing about the kingdom.

We can do this concretely, for instance, by being a peacemaker or reconciler between warring parties. Instead of aggravating the conflict by reporting to the other the bad remarks made by the other, we should rather patch up where it’s necessary.

Another is performing good deeds and worthwhile projects that benefit especially the less fortunate like providing jobs or low-cost housing.

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Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the enormous problems of the world today. We throw up our arms and say, “What can I do? I’m so small and insignificant.” No matter how insignificant you may be, your task is to help build God’s kingdom of justice, love and peace. Are you doing your SHARE?

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FAMILY T.V. MASS — is aired by the SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc. (MCFI) on IBC-13 at 9-10 a.m. every Sunday.

Sunday sponsor: Pamantasan ng Lungsod Maynila. Celebrant: Fr. Fernando Suarez.

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SIMBANG GABI. Our TV Ministry is airing the nine-day Simbang Gabi on Studio 23, ABS-CBN, to reach out especially to the sick, handicapped, and elderly who can’t go to church.

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To realize the project, we appeal to generous readers for love offerings or sponsorships.

For inquiries, call Brian Deguito of MCFI at Christ the King Seminary, QC (cf. tel. directory) or e-mail: belsvd@yahoo.com.