Behold, the King"

Sunday Mass Readings

The feast of Christ the King was instituted as a feast by Pope Pius XI as late as 1925. More than purely spiritual considerations, it was world political events that prompted the Pope to institute the feast. World War I (1914-1918) was barely over and the memories of the blood bath was still fresh in the minds of people. Nine million soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of civilians were also killed. After the war unprecedented nationalism and Fascism spread through out Europe and the world. Both Mussolini and Hitler were flexing their muscles. While the war was over, conflicts continued to simmer. Twenty-one years later (1939-1945) the II World War would break out and this time sixty million people would be killed. The fact that the feast of Christ the King was instituted between the two World Wars says much about Pius the XI’s intentions. First, he wanted to turn Europe’s attention from petty nationalism and destructive Fascism toward God. Secondly, he wanted to point out to an alternative way to exercise power in a world that was increasingly hostile and divisive – the power of love. Thirdly, he wanted to turn the world’s attention from the atheistic secularism that was sweeping the West and focus its attention once more on God.

Pius XI established the feast of Christ the King to turn the world attention from hostility and war to love and peace. None of us are in the position to influence world politics. However, each of us has the power to influence our immediate surroundings. And in our area of influence we must end hostility and division and bring peace, healing and reconciliation. To the extent that we do not end hostility and division to that extent, like Pilate, we allow ourselves to be judged by Christ.

- Fr. Satish Joseph