The Feast of Christ the King

Next Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church calendar year. On this Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King, also called the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. He declared a ‘holy year’ in which the kingdom of God was present in the hearts of Christians all over the world.

In the Gospel reading, we hear about Jesus being summoned before Pontius Pilot before he was sentenced to death. The Jews were not allowed to sentence people to death so they asked Pilot to sentence Jesus. Pilot asks Jesus "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answers him "My kingdom is not from this world”. Then he says "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Jesus said His kingdom is about TRUTH which is “justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. Jesus’ kingship is not one of executive or coercive power. It is to open people’s eyes to the real meaning of life, of their existence and that of the world in which they live. Throughout the history of Christianity, wherever we see people working to maintain peace, care for the poor, fight injustice, and gather in worship, we see the TRUTH, the power of Christ reigning in the hearts and minds of humankind. Have you noticed how joy-filled these people who have found the TRUTH of Jesus are? Jesus also said, “the TRUTH will set you free”… No one is freer, more joyful and more at peace than the one who lets Jesus reign in their hearts and who accepts that truth as the Way to a full Life.

As Christians, we are called to open our hearts and minds to Jesus’ truth and let Jesus reign in our hearts so we can bring God’s Kingdom to earth right here right now.

Our Father, 
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus Christ,
I know you are the King of all creation;
all that I have comes from you.
All I can offer you in return is to promise to work to the best of my ability and to try to live a good Christian life.
Bring all people into your holy kingdom,
so that your peace and glory reigns
throughout the whole universe.

Amen