20 November 2011: Solemnity of Christ the King

Last Sunday in Ordinary time (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1421)

“The Ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5)
“The Lord will reign forever and will give his people the gift of peace.” (Ps 28:10-11)
This Solemnity is “... the synthesis of the entire salvific mystery” (cf John Paul II, “Address”, 20 November 1983). This feast brings the liturgical year to a close. Over the past months we have celebrated the mysteries of the life of the Lord. Now we contemplate Christ in his glorified state as King of all Creation and of our souls.
The feasts of the Epiphany, Easter and the Ascension also relate to Christ as King and Lord of the Universe, but the Church has wanted to have this feast as a special remembrance to modern man, who seems somewhat indifferent to his supernatural destiny. (cf Pius XI, Encyclical, “Quas primas”, 11 December 1925)
The texts for today’s Mass emphasize the love of Christ the King. He did not come to establish his kingdom by force. His ‘weapons’ are goodness and a shepherd’s solicitude: “I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out: As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” (Ez 34:11-2)
The Lord tends to his lost sheep, men and women who have gone astray through sin. He heals their wounds and goes so far as to die for his sheep.
“As King, he came to reveal God’s love, to be the Mediator of the new Covenant, the Redeemer of mankind. The kingdom which Jesus initiated works in its interior dynamism as ‘leaven’ and a ‘sign of salvation’ to build a more just, more fraternal world, one with more solidarity, inspired by the evangelic values of hope and of the future happiness to which all are called.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 26 November 1989)
This is what the Kingdom of Christ is all about. Each one of us is called to participate in this kingdom and expand it through our apostolate. The Lord must be present in our families, among our friends, neighbors and colleagues at work.
“... Against those who reduce religion to a set of negative statements, or are happy to settle for a watered-down Catholicism; against those who wish to see the Lord with his face against the wall, or to put him in a corner of their souls, we have to affirm, with our words and ... deeds, that we aspire to make Christ the King reign indeed over all hearts, theirs included.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 608)
St Paul teaches us that while Christ’s Kingdom is achieved in time and space, it will attain its definitive fulness at the Last Judgment. He depicts this epochal event as a rite of homage to the Father: Christ will present all Creation to him as an offering. Then all things will be subjected to his rule. (cf 1 Cor 15:23-8) His Second Coming will establish “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev 21:1-2). He will, therefore, vanquish the devil, sin, pain and death. (cf “The Navarre Bible”, note to 1 Cor 15:23-8)
Christ is a King who has been given all power in Heaven and on earth, but governs like one “gentle and lowly of heart” (cf Mt 11:29). His rule is “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (cf Mt 20:28). His throne was a manger in Bethlehem and then a cross on Calvary. “... the Ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5) whose tribute is our faith and love.
The first person formally to recognize Christ as king was a condemned criminal. He captured the Lord’s Heart with that humble request: “Jesus, remember me when you come to your kingly power” (Lk 23:42). This man was able to grasp the real meaning of Christ’s kingship although it was the object of merciless ridicule from the clamoring throng. His faith deepened as Christ’s divinity became increasingly obscured.
Jesus speaks to us on the occasion of this solemn feast: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11) Let us ask his blessing on our efforts to extend his kingdom through our apostolate of friendship and confidence.
“This is the calling of Christians, ... our apostolic task, the desire which should consume our soul: to make this kingdom of Christ a reality, to eliminate hatred and cruelty, to spread throughout the earth the strong and soothing balm of love.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 183)
If we are to turn these ideals into reality we must go again to Our Lady. “Mary, the holy Mother of our king, the queen of our heart, looks after us as only she knows how. Mother of Mercy, throne of grace: we ask you to help us compose, verse by verse, the simple poem of charity in our own life and the lives of the people around us; ... ‘like a river of peace’ (Isaiah 66:12). For you are a sea of inexhaustible mercy.” [‘All streams run to the sea, but the sea is never full.’ (Eccles 1:7) (St Josemaria Escrivà, “Christ is passing by”, 187)]
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:526-31

Truth, the Power of Peace
First among the ethical imperatives that must preside over the relations among nations and peoples is ‘truth’ ... I am confident the governments and the nations ... will, as they have so admirably done in the past, associate themselves once again with this lofty aim: to instill truth into all relationships, be they political or economic, bilateral or multinational. Bringing truth into all relations is to work for peace, for it will make it possible to apply to the problems of the world solutions that are in conformity with reason and with justice -- in a word, with the truth about man.
And this brings me to the second point I would like to make. If it is to be true and lasting, peace must be truly human. The desire for peace is universal. It is embedded in the hearts of all human beings and it cannot be achieved unless the human person is placed at the center of every effort to bring about unity and brotherhood among nations.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p404

• Our Lady of ‘La Gardia’, near Bologna, in Italy. This picture was in the Church of Santa Sophia at Constantinople with this inscription: “This picture, painted by St Luke, must be taken to the mountain of ‘La Gardia’ and placed over the altar of the church.” A Greek monk set out for Italy about the year 433, with the picture entrusted to him, and deposited it on the mountain, of ‘La Gardia’. — Bzovius, ad ann. 1433, n. 379. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• “Madonna della Guardia” (also known as “La Gardia”). Bologna, Italy. 433. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Guard (near Bologna, Italy). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of “La Guarde”, Bologna, Italy (433). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• “Nuestra Señora de la Regla” (Our Lady of the Rule). Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines (“The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p57)
• Our Lady of Remedies. Malate, Manila, PHL. Moveable feast -- Third Sunday in November. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Cardinal Spellman Consecrates the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (1959). (http://mariedenazareth.com)