Sunday, November 24, 2024
This Sunday marks the end of the liturgical calendar year. Every year on this Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King). Next Sunday begins the Advent season and a new liturgical year. As a direct response to growing secularism, atheism, and nationalism after World War I, Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the King in 1925. It is a reminder that all nations and governments had beginnings and will have ends, but Christ’s reign as King is eternal.
The Kingdom of God is not a place on a map. Biblical scholars describe it as God’s dominion. Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” — John 18:36. Christ does not become the King of the Universe until after the final judgment. But He aims to reign as King of our hearts in our time. Is Christ the King of your universe? Does He command every aspect of your personal, family, and professional life? Do worldly pursuits of riches, happiness, and indulgences command your mind, soul, or body?
When we do things that harm or upset others, we try not to face them. We do the same and hide from God when we do things against His will. But God always seeks us and wants us closer to Him. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that we are not so much in search of God as He is in search of us. He points to sins against God and neighbor, bringing these first questions asked in Scripture: Man, where are you? Why are you hiding? And where is your brother? What have you done to him?
When Jesus is King of our hearts, we participate in His Kingship, expressed through a commitment to love and participation in His transformative work in the world. Christ made Himself a servant of all, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28. Accepting Christ is allowing His love to transform our personal lives and encourage us to reflect on how our actions align with the characteristics of Christ’s kingdom of justice, love, and peace. Our belief in Him instills hope in the final judgment and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom. This is the shared mission of the Church of spreading His kingdom through humility and service.
“No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.” — St. Ignatius of Antioch. With the Liturgical Year ending, it is a good time to reflect on the blessings bestowed upon us through God’s love and grace and Christ’s sacrifice. It is also a good time for optimism about what the new year and the kingship of Jesus will bring. May recognizing Christ as King urge us to deepen our commitment to His reign in our lives.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.