A: Solemnity of Christ the King (26 Nov 2017) - POWERLESS KING - Mt 25:31-46

The Hebrew term for “king” is “melek”. It has the root letters “m-l-k” from which many other words relating to the kingly context are derived: “malkah” (“queen”), “malkut” (“kingdom”) and “malak” (“to rule”). Many names too in the Old Testament carry this 3-letter-root, e.g., Melchizedek, Abimelech, Ahimelech, Molech and Malchiah—most of them names of OT kings. All these examples corroborate that “m-l-k” in the Semitic world is associated with power.

The Philippine lexicon is influenced too somehow by the Semitic language. Take for example our word “salamat” which is a cognate of both the Hebrew and Arabic root “s-l-m”, hence, “shalom” and “salam”, respectively. In the same fashion, “m-l-k” might have entered into the Filipino vernacular and have brought along its references to superiority and power. Sadly, however, these words sneaked in to define fatally our present Philippine politics…

Malaki (“big”). Big is might and it remains so in the Philippine society. Big names, big families and big clans are still “untouchables”. The small persons (i.e., the poor) are always at the losing end. How many poor people are denied justice in the War on Drugs? How many daily commuters suffer from substandard transport services? How many graduates remain jobless or are earning below the basic living wage?

Malakas (“strong”). Being “malakas” is an allusion to those who have a strong connection to public officials. This leads to handsome financial opportunities and favorable privileges even to the point of becoming above-the-law. Furthermore, these beloved persons can even be nominated to government posts even if they are underqualified. But those who are “mahina” (antonym of “malakas”) are either sent to jail or in the process of being impeached.

Malacañan (Philippine White House). At the end of the day, the seat of the Presidency continues to control the whole political narrative. And the helpless Filipinos are caught up within the satirical melodrama: hearing that we are anti-USA but now with Trump feasting in our banquet hall, believing that we are open for peace talks but now with the NPAs declared as terrorists, trusting that we shall keep the sovereignty away from neo-colonizers but now kneeling before the great China and Russia for their protection, and many more…

The First Reading defines what a true “m-l-k” is: a shepherd who will take care of his sheep (Ezek. 34:11-12). True enough, a shepherd is not “malaki”… he is poor and pastures his poor herd. He does not favor the “malakas”… he takes care of the wounded and the scattered ones of his fold. He is not after maintaining his “Malacañan”… he uses wisely his staff to drive predators away from his flock.

The feast of Christ the King was instituted in 1925 by Pius XI as a response to the widespread secular dominion of power in the 20th century. Yet, it is the powerlessness of Jesus on the cross that will heal all divisions; and it is embodied in his humble role as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11).

As an aside, in the Philippine agro-maritime context the profession of being a shepherd is best understood in the work of either a farmer or a fisherman. Fisherman among the Tagalogs is rendered as “mamalakaya”… which may be a good alternate derivative to the overly hegemonized “m-l-k”.

- Rex Fortes, CM