The Solemnity of Christ the King

Today's Scripture 

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 throughout Europe and the world. Both Mussolini and Hitler were flexing their brute power. 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.

Both you and I know that the world is not any better today. Terrorism, war, poverty, unbridled profit-making and climate change threaten us. In this context the feast of Christ the King becomes as relevant as it was when it was founded.

Let us look to the scripture readings for inspiration. The first reading from the book of Daniel tells us that power, glory and authority in the first place belongs to God. It is God’s prerogative and only God’s, to hand it to whomsoever he wishes. There is only one person on whom God has bestowed absolute power, glory and authority – the “son of man” (Dan 7:13), Jesus. The second reading reminds us that Jesus – “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5) – Jesus - exercises his power through his love. As the reading says, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priest for his God and Father, to him to glory forever and ever” (Rev 1:5-6). The gospel reading is rather ironic. A pathetic, unbelieving, cunning, little, mortal man, Pilate, is judging Christ – the Alpha and Omega (the first and last Greek alphabets symbolizing that Christ is the beginning and end, the all in all). Pilate thinks that he has absolute power. He thinks that Jesus is handed over to him. Actually, Pilate is handed over to Jesus. Pilate was not judging Jesus; Jesus was judging Pilate. A real king, says Jesus, is the one who listens to the truth – the voice of God. Pilate was not on the side of truth. Jesus, on the other hand, in obedience listens to his Father’s voice, lays down his life in sacrifice, showed the power of love, and revealed the truth about God. As the first reading suggests, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed’ (Dan 7:14). The power of Christ’s love can never be destroyed.

I want to draw three implications for us.

1. When I think of the Feast of Christ as King, my attention also turns to myself as a Christian – follower of Christ and his ideals. One of the things I ask myself is – what is about Christ that makes him attractive to me? What about Christ makes me pledge my life to Christ and his ideals. For me Christ’s non-violence and his attempt to overcome the most brutal violence done to him with forgiveness and love is the most attractive quality of his life. Moreover, when he acted that way, Christ was telling the world something about God – that God was forgiveness and love. Perhaps, you have noticed in my homilies that often I refer to universal love, forgiveness, and acceptance of diversity. I would like to us reflect on this one question this week. What about Christ captures my imagination? What about Christ inspires me? What aspect of Christ’s life attracts me to call myself a Christian?

2. The second practical implication comes from our answer to the questions I have just posed. I just gave you my attraction to Christ. But my attraction to Christ based on these qualities has relevance only to the extent I am able to translate this into my daily life. I prove my allegiance to Christ only when become Christ like. To the extent that I do not make an attempt to live out my allegiance to Christ to that extent I am a hypocrite. I guess the second practical implication I am suggesting is that each of us find a way to make real in our daily life that aspect of Christ that we find most inspiring. To the extent we accomplish this to that extent we make Christ’s kingship real; to that extent we make our own Christianity real.

3. Just for a brief moment, I would like return to the theme of “power.” Pius XI established the feast of Christ the King to turn the world attention from hostility and war to love and peace. Now none of us are in the position to influence world politics. However, each of us has the power to influence our immediate surroundings. As associate pastor, I have the power to influence the decisions made in this parish. As parents you have power over your children; as husbands and wives your influence each other; as doctors or nurses or managers, or teachers we have much power over people. Children exercise much power over their parents albeit rather differently. Children and young people, parents put much power into your hands when they hand you your first car, our your cell phone, your video games or your computer. Each of needs to examine the way we exercise the power put in our hands. We must resist the temptation to exercise power in the manner that Pilate, Mussolini or Hitler did – in a manipulative, divisive or destructive manner. Rather, any exercise of power must be tempered with love. Like Christ, we must exercise the power of love – the power that brings reconciliation, peace and unity.

Let me conclude by saying that in a few moments, love itself will come into our hearts. Christ's body and blood is the most real expression of the power of love of Christ our King. May our participation on Christ's power of love lead us to be the power of Christ's love in our world.

- Fr. Satish Joseph