Solemnity of Christ the King: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
Theme: Acknowledging and Accepting the Kingship of Christ
Readings: 1st 2 Sam. 5:1–3; 2nd Col. 1:12–20; Gosp. Lk 23:35–43
The solemnity of Christ the King marks the definitive end of the church’s ordinary time and, of course, the entire liturgical calendar of year C. Today, we acknowledge and adore Christ as the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the beginning and the end of time.
This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to growing nationalism, modernism and secularism in our world. As we know, the Nineteenth Century and Early Twentieth Century were marked with problems that shocked the world. At the background of the growing Modernism, Secularism, religious intolerance, and anti-clericalism that dominated that era, there were all manners of thinking that sought for a total re-examination and, in some cases, abandonment of all religious and traditional values about God, man and human life. These new ways of thinking led to the First World War, which caused the loss of many lives. The lesson these events have for us is to understand that when we throw away religious and traditional values of life, human life will hardly be respected, it may be treated like nothing. Our present world is also seriously pushing for this abandonment of religious and traditional values of life. Many people have come up with arguments to show us how archaic our religious and traditional values are. They have come up with arguments supporting abortion, euthanasia, same sex union, in vitro fertilization, etc. Let us be on our guard, for they have a plan to rob human life of its respect and value.
In its efforts to depart from classical and traditional forms and values, and to re-evaluate religious and traditional beliefs, Modernism introduced a way of thinking that made God irrelevant in the public space and enthroned man in his place and, consequently, caused widespread atheism. So, the solemnity of Christ the King was instituted at a time when the world was seeing man as the measure of all things, a time when the world sought to make the church irrelevant in the public space, a time when the world’s political, social and cultural institutions suppressed the mention of the name of Jesus Christ in their gatherings and rejected the kingship of Christ over all nations and hearts. It was instituted at a time when the powers in Europe promoted a model of thinking that sought to banish God from the people’s life and encouraged people to live and organize their life as if God does not exist. It was instituted as an antidote to the problems of caused by Modernism in order to promote the worship of Christ both in the privacy of people’s hearts, as well as in the public domain. The title of the feast was “Jesu Christi Regis” (Jesus Christ the King).
In his motu proprio “Mysterii Paschalis” of 1969, Pope Paul VI gave the celebration a new title: “Iesu Christi universorum Regis” (which means Jesus Christ, King of the Universe). He also moved the celebration to the last Sunday in the liturgical calendar and transformed it from a feast to a “Solemnity.” This title that Christ is the king of the universe is a special call for our world of today where many people are losing hope in the saving power of Christ, a world where evil appears to be fashionable, desired and celebrated by many people, a world where those who profess their faith in God and want to live according to His commandments are often seen as unintelligent, ridiculed and made to feel irrelevant. We must remember that Christ is still the king of the universe and the king of kings.
The first reading of today showed us the earthly kingly line of Jesus. He was born into the royal family of David who reigned as king of the united kingdom of Israel. The kingdom of David was great and powerful to the extent that the people of Israel yearned for a king who would rule them again like David. In Christ, God gave us a king greater that David.
The gospel of today affirmed this kingship of Christ. While the rulers of the people at the foot of the cross were denying Christ’s kingship and mocking him, one of the thieves that were crucified with him affirmed Christ as king and told him, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power.” We also saw that those at the foot of the cross who were denying Christ’s kingship were, at the same time, affirming that He saved others, but couldn’t save himself. Christ is a king who takes the bullet fired at his subjects, a king who died so that his subjects may live and be saved. He is a compassionate King, a king who loves his subjects more than his life. He is not like our earthly kings who would rather prefer to sacrifice their subjects to save their own lives and the lives of their families. Earthly kings want their subjects to die for them, but Christ, our king, died for His subjects.
The second reading still sounded the note of the kingship of Christ. It reminded us that God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of Christ his beloved Son. So, we are no longer under the power and control of the devil and sin, rather we have been liberated to enjoy the reign of Christ which is the reign of peace, justice, love, mercy and truth.
One of the most important goals of today’s celebration is to acknowledge and worship Christ as the king of the universe and the king of our lives. Thus, we must allow Christ to reign in our lives. If He reigns in every heart, then, our families, society and our entire world would be a better place.
Today’s celebration challenges you individually to ask yourself if Christ is the king of your life; to ask yourself if Christ is the role model of yourself; to ask yourself whether you are giving Christ His rightful position in your heart? It challenges you to ask yourself if Christ’s teachings is the path that directs your life. Today’s celebration would be of no use, if we have not given Christ the chance to reign in our lives, in our families, in our businesses, and in our entire world.
Christ the king is the shepherd of our lives. Today’s celebration invites us to trust Him and follow him wherever he leads us.
Happy Feast Day, and have a blessed week
Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima