Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King
Reflection on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
By Mico Pacheco
November 26, 2017
By Mico Pacheco
November 26, 2017
Today, we celebrate a notable feast known to many as the Feast of Christ the King. This Sunday marks the last week of the present liturgical year before entering the season of Advent which begins a new year and cycle in the Church Calendar.
Whenever the season of Ordinary Time nears its end, we usually hear readings which speak of the end times, how the world as we know it will come to an end and all men will be subject to judgment before God. The eschatology (theological matters on death and final judgment) tell us of being mere subjects to be brought before the throne of grace, Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Eschatologically speaking, the celebration of Christ the King culminates the journey through the liturgical year and reminds us that after this earthly living, we will all end before the throne of Christ the King, to be judged for what we have done in this life. It tells us to prepare and become accountable for our actions for in the end of it all, we will all meet Christ on the final day.
While eschatology is a matter usually spoken with aversion, for it is difficult to remind ourselves in a material world that all of these vain pleasures are nothing, useless and fleeting, we must continue to strive in reminding ourselves that all these are but illusions in this world and that our true destination is not earthly life but life with Christ, to be satisfied not by earthly food but by the heavenly banquet prepared at the House of the Father.
The full name of this solemnity, the day in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe speaks much on the reign of Christ. Christ is not only the King of Christians, or the king of a certain people or race, Christ is the King of All Creation, everything we see here on earth and those beyond it are his and are subjected to him.
Popular culture today see Christ as the typical “good guy”, who would not do anything wrong, who cares for all and who speaks ultimately in the language of love. This is very much true about Christ. He is truly a merciful and loving God. But what people today tend to forget is the Christ is a God who does not use “love” and “care” at the expense of what is truly right and rightfully true. If we think that Christ will withhold his judgment for the sake of not hurting the feelings of others but in the expense of what is true and good, then we are mistaken. The “Jesus” painted by popular culture – a feel-good culture which says that mere faith will grant a sure path to salvation – is not the scriptural, historical and theologically true Christ!
Who then, is Christ? He, himself, is the One, True, and Good – the fount of all the truly good things in this fleeting world.
The feast we celebrate today was established by the Church through the pontificate of Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a response to the growing secularism of that time. We are aware that the early 20th century was marked by civil wars and the rise of political powers forcing the Church out of state affairs and thus, removing Christ in the area of politics and persecuting those who seek Christ over the sovereign state. It was a time of martyrs. Notably in Mexico, when Christians fought the Christ-hating state, they greeted them with the chant: VIVA CRISTO REY – LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING! This movement created numerous saints and martyrs including the likes of Blessed Miguel Pro and the recently canonized Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio – the youngest of the Cristero martyrs.
We may ask, what does the Church have to do with state affairs? What does the Church want us to learn from its canonization of members of a movement known by the state as its enemies and sowers of the seeds of rebellion?
CHRIST IS KING – THE ONE TRUE KING OF ALL THE UNIVERSE. Truth belongs to him, all goodness belongs to him, and all knowledge is him as well. Today’s culture must be reminded that convenience must not compromise morals! Society today has showed so much its love for money, vanity and worldly pleasures that we have compromised caring for the sick, the poor and the needy, protecting life from conception to natural death, and fighting for the sanctity of marriage and the family. We must remember that as Christians, CHRIST IS OUR KING. Apart from our duty to pledge love and loyalty to our country and to the state, we must never forget Christ.
As Christians, we have a duty to bring Christ into the public sphere. Christ is not to be hidden in the tabernacles of our Churches but to be brought out to the places of everyday life – to remind all people of the eschatological truth – that all these things are fleeting but only one thing never fleets – Christ, our God, King and Redeemer.
May Christ our King truly reign in our hearts, but not only in our hearts but in the hearts of all men. May Christ become the inspiration of our leaders in pursuing the good of all people in its journey to social progress. May Christ reign in the heart of every Christian soul. May our last breath echo the melodious chant of the martyrs of old – VIVA CRISTO REY – LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING – MABUHAY ANG KRISTONG HARI!
Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!
Whenever the season of Ordinary Time nears its end, we usually hear readings which speak of the end times, how the world as we know it will come to an end and all men will be subject to judgment before God. The eschatology (theological matters on death and final judgment) tell us of being mere subjects to be brought before the throne of grace, Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Eschatologically speaking, the celebration of Christ the King culminates the journey through the liturgical year and reminds us that after this earthly living, we will all end before the throne of Christ the King, to be judged for what we have done in this life. It tells us to prepare and become accountable for our actions for in the end of it all, we will all meet Christ on the final day.
While eschatology is a matter usually spoken with aversion, for it is difficult to remind ourselves in a material world that all of these vain pleasures are nothing, useless and fleeting, we must continue to strive in reminding ourselves that all these are but illusions in this world and that our true destination is not earthly life but life with Christ, to be satisfied not by earthly food but by the heavenly banquet prepared at the House of the Father.
The full name of this solemnity, the day in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe speaks much on the reign of Christ. Christ is not only the King of Christians, or the king of a certain people or race, Christ is the King of All Creation, everything we see here on earth and those beyond it are his and are subjected to him.
Popular culture today see Christ as the typical “good guy”, who would not do anything wrong, who cares for all and who speaks ultimately in the language of love. This is very much true about Christ. He is truly a merciful and loving God. But what people today tend to forget is the Christ is a God who does not use “love” and “care” at the expense of what is truly right and rightfully true. If we think that Christ will withhold his judgment for the sake of not hurting the feelings of others but in the expense of what is true and good, then we are mistaken. The “Jesus” painted by popular culture – a feel-good culture which says that mere faith will grant a sure path to salvation – is not the scriptural, historical and theologically true Christ!
Who then, is Christ? He, himself, is the One, True, and Good – the fount of all the truly good things in this fleeting world.
The feast we celebrate today was established by the Church through the pontificate of Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a response to the growing secularism of that time. We are aware that the early 20th century was marked by civil wars and the rise of political powers forcing the Church out of state affairs and thus, removing Christ in the area of politics and persecuting those who seek Christ over the sovereign state. It was a time of martyrs. Notably in Mexico, when Christians fought the Christ-hating state, they greeted them with the chant: VIVA CRISTO REY – LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING! This movement created numerous saints and martyrs including the likes of Blessed Miguel Pro and the recently canonized Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio – the youngest of the Cristero martyrs.
We may ask, what does the Church have to do with state affairs? What does the Church want us to learn from its canonization of members of a movement known by the state as its enemies and sowers of the seeds of rebellion?
CHRIST IS KING – THE ONE TRUE KING OF ALL THE UNIVERSE. Truth belongs to him, all goodness belongs to him, and all knowledge is him as well. Today’s culture must be reminded that convenience must not compromise morals! Society today has showed so much its love for money, vanity and worldly pleasures that we have compromised caring for the sick, the poor and the needy, protecting life from conception to natural death, and fighting for the sanctity of marriage and the family. We must remember that as Christians, CHRIST IS OUR KING. Apart from our duty to pledge love and loyalty to our country and to the state, we must never forget Christ.
As Christians, we have a duty to bring Christ into the public sphere. Christ is not to be hidden in the tabernacles of our Churches but to be brought out to the places of everyday life – to remind all people of the eschatological truth – that all these things are fleeting but only one thing never fleets – Christ, our God, King and Redeemer.
May Christ our King truly reign in our hearts, but not only in our hearts but in the hearts of all men. May Christ become the inspiration of our leaders in pursuing the good of all people in its journey to social progress. May Christ reign in the heart of every Christian soul. May our last breath echo the melodious chant of the martyrs of old – VIVA CRISTO REY – LONG LIVE CHRIST THE KING – MABUHAY ANG KRISTONG HARI!
Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat!