CHRIST THE KING
This feast was only introduced only in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. Interestingly, as the Pope points out in an encyclical (letter of the pope) that accompanied the event, the introduction of the feast was a warning against the totalitarian governments of the 20th century. It was a statement against the situation in Europe between the two World Wars.
Secularism was on the rise and dangerous dictatorships were emerging in Europe and beyond. The Pope was aware of the waning in the respect and reverence of Christ’s authority in a region that had deep roots in Judeo-Christian values. Pope Pius XI wanted to affirm that that the Church has the right to freedom and immunity from the state. He wanted the leaders of the nations to give respect to Christ and His teachings. This feast would boost the fervor of the believers to make Christ the king of their hearts rather than bend their knee to some ideology that treated human beings as pawns to their political ends.
Today ‘kings and queens’ are mostly becoming titles of the past, or becoming symbolic in places where they still exist. We are not free from dictatorial governments and totalitarian regimes. In many countries, the state itself is becoming a symbol of tyranny and many times, the citizens are quite unaware as they do not understand the undercurrents of popular measures rolled out by their elected officials. On another front, we are also increasingly overpowered by technology, media, and affluence. Therefore, this feast is still needed to remind us of who is our real ‘Boss’! This feast simply calls us to humble ourselves to accept the loving reign of God in our lives. Let us explore this a little deeper.
The Magi from the East came to worship the infant Jesus, whom they recognized as the Newborn King in the line of the Great King David. King Herod, perceiving Him as a threat, also sought to have Him put to death. When He preached, He talked about a Kingdom that is here and now, right in our midst, if we will only follow His teachings. His disciples learned the Our Father prayer from Him, and in it He prayed for God's Kingdom to come here on Earth. During His trial before His crucifixion, Jesus proclaimed, "My kingdom is not of this world." And on this Feast day, we proclaim Jesus Christ to be both our King and the King of all kings.
However, is Jesus comparable to other kings we know of from history or even encounter in the modern world? In a word, no. He is not an autocratic leader, and His rule has been anything but benign. In addition to being King, he also serves as Shepherd. How can this be? But if He claims that He has come not to be served, but to serve, then how can we recognize Him as King? Taking on the role of a servant by washing His disciples' feet, perhaps? The Good Shepherd would leave the 99 sheep to go after the one that had gotten lost, so why wouldn't God go to such lengths for His children? Does this describe a mighty and righteous King, a judge who rules from His regal throne? No, and Praise God, Our King is a Good Shepherd and a Servant Leader.
Our Gospel puts it plainly: we will be held accountable for our actions toward others, specifically our treatment of the most vulnerable among us and our faithfulness to Jesus as our Good Shepherd and Servant Leader. The takeaway from this story is that no matter how small, no act of sacrifice, service, or kindness is ever insignificant. They are significant! As often as you do these things for the least of these, you are doing them for Me, says Jesus Christ, Our King. These seemingly inconsequential deeds contribute to the expansion of God's kingdom here on Earth. A kingdom described as "an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace" in the preface to today's Mass. In the Our Father prayer, Jesus taught us to ask for God's kingdom to come on earth. And we can only have it if we work toward its creation right now. Fr Tom Kunnel, C.O.