The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
We are celebrating the Feast of Christ the King under the shadows a very violent two weeks in Paris and violence in Mali. Even though we are going about our normal lives here in Dayton, perhaps, it would not be wrong to say that we are not unconcerned about our own safety. 9/11 introduced us to a new kind of violence – the kind that we do not know how to define. It is not a war in the classical sense of the word, but it is a war. It is and is not a religious conflict at the same time. Some call this terrorism others call it martyrdom. No one word describes this new phenomenon. Whereas this kind of conflict is new for us, perhaps it is surprising to know that it was not new for Jesus. Today’s conflict between the West and religious radicalism bears similarities to the conflict between the Romans and Zealots in Jesus time. In other words, Jesus was not immune from the kind of conflict we experience today. As a child he had to flee into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Jesus was a refugee and an immigrant. In his time there were insurrections and the brutal suppression of freedom as well. Rebels were publicly crucified.
It is intriguing, then, that in spite of the violence around him, Jesus became the kind of person that he was – non-violent, non-resistant, teaching love of enemies and finally forgiving his murderers from the cross. That does not mean that he was weak, but rather, his strength lay in his counter-cultural message of love. He was the Messiah, but as today’s gospel reading suggests, rejected worldly trappings of power. His message was of humility, service and love. Two thousand years after Jesus death we know that no other man influenced the course of human history like he did.
What shall we make of the Feast of Christ the King? Here are my three answers to this question.
1. The History. The first thing for us to remember about this feast is that it was greatly inspired by global events. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast only in 1925. The I World War was just over and nine-million people had died in that war. However, the end of the war was not the beginning of peace by any imagination. Dictators like Mussolini and Hitler assumed unbridled power because the people in Europe were the victims of rampant nationalism, fascism and ethnic divisions. Pius XI could envision that if nations did not curb their ambitions and desire for domination, it could lead to yet another more destructive war. By instituting this feast, the Pope was proposing another way to conduct world affairs. He wanted a very Christian Europe to turn its eyes to Christ who, even though had universal power and authority, exercised it in love and for service. The Pope’s call went unheeded. There was another World War and this time sixty million people were killed.
We may not be facing the threat of a World War, but we still face such horrendous violence. What are we missing today? My heart wants Jesus to come back and be among us like he was then. Perhaps, that is why the Feast of Christ the King makes so much sense. This feast is way for us continue reminding ourselves of Christ’s message. This feast makes us question our logic for peace. This feast makes us question the politics of domination, destruction and self-interest. This feast reminds us that there is another way.
2. The 'Truth.' I find the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate truly interesting. Why should Pilate, the governor of the Palestinian territory, have a conversation about ‘truth’ with an alleged criminal about to the sentenced to death? Yet Pilate did! Talking about the ‘truth’ Jesus says, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Even though it is not included in today’s gospel reading, Pilate would respond, “What is truth?” And that is the question for us too. “What is truth?” As we encounter an enormous amount of violence, murder and destruction, what is the truth? For me, the truth is the life and example of Jesus! The truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For me the truth is, “Blessed are the poor and the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of God is theirs. For me the truth is, “Blessed are the peace-makers; they will be called children of God.” For me the truth is, “Blessed are the meek; they will inherit the earth.” For me the truth is, “Blessed are those who are insulted and persecuted for the sake of righteousness; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The cross of Christ stands for what Christ proclaimed as the truth. Today’s feast reminds us of the ‘truth.’
3. The Invitation. And then there is the third aspect of this feast – our personal relationship and commitment to Christ the king. If the cross of Christ proclaims and truth, then that truth has got to be your truth and mine as well. Really, what do we believe? Do we think that Jesus message of transforming love is relevant today? Or do we believe that Jesus is for inside the church, but outside, in the real world there is a different logic – the logic of domination and inequality? As much as this feast is about Christ the king, it is also an invitation to accept Jesus way of life. It is invitation to live life that reflects the truth of Christ. It is an invitation to reject the culture of domination, of violence, of hatred, of control and of falsehood. It is an invitation to live life doing good deeds like Jesus, being in love and for service like Jesus, bringing reconciliation and peace like Jesus, of being compassionate and generous like Jesus, of embracing weakness and simplicity with faith in God like Jesus, and of total abandonment of our life into the hands of God like Jesus. Does anyone in the world today have the raw courage to follow Jesus? Do we have the courage to be radically Christ-like?
As we participate in this great feast, may our celebration lead us more closely to the truth and the Kingdom of Christ.
-Fr. Satish Joseph