There are many kingdoms and rulers who have come and gone throughout the history of the world. With the rise of nations and rulers we get different ideologies that are put into motion which sometimes give honor to the human person and to God and sometimes do the complete opposite. In time a ruler will die and a new one will spring up in their place that can overturn everything either for the good or the bad. This Solemnity was placed onto our liturgical calendar at the conclusion of the First World War as a reminder of the world's need to place Christ central to our lives if we will ever hope to find peace and happiness among the nation's of the world and within our own life. With the Solemnity of Christ the King we embrace a ruler who is stable and unchanging and are able to see a true Kingdom that is based upon true love for the human person. If we are willing to flock towards the cross of Christ on this day we will experience the loving peace and forgiveness that was offered to the criminal who embraced conversion.
In 1925 Pope Pius XI established this solemnity that is celebrated by stating: the people "of that time –had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives. As long as individuals and states refuse to submit to the way of our savior, there will be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations.” This of course was not taken fully to heart because it was not long after this that the world would find itself in the midst of a Second World War. Now we far removed from these words cannot claim that we have fully embraced this. Nations still exist which do not reflect these values through their ability to not care for the poor, to overlook the life of the child found within the womb, to treat workers as objects instead of respecting their human dignity, along with many other injustices that continue to plague our world. We still live with the fear of war while in hearts we long for peace. This peace will never be found until the world is able to embrace Jesus Christ as it's king.
We cannot only blame nations and rulers for this lack of peace on earth, but also ourselves. If sin is present inside of our lives we cannot fool ourselves into believing that we have fully embraced Christ as our king. We have all been made fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones, but instead have allowed ourselves to be pulled into the darkness of sin. Christ presents to us upon His cross, a great Kingdom, that all of us can find ourselves within if only we can trust in conversion. If we want to find lasting peace within our lives we must submit to the way of our savior. The way of our savior is defiantly counter cultural because it is a way that leads towards humility and love. We can only discover true humility and love by embracing Christ our King and casting off all that detracts us from this reality. From the throne of our Lord we will receive the grace necessary to rip ourselves away from the enslavement of sin and to in return be made at "peace by the blood of his cross."
As we search out this reality of conversion we must also learn to silence our lives. We live in a busy world that is constantly being filled with noise and we often find silence to be unbearable. We will never come to know the true peace of heart that can be discovered if we are unwilling to slow down and enter into silence. In silence we will learn to pray, to discern God's will inside of our lives, and be strengthened against sin. In silence we will slow down and learn to truly adore Christ our King who comes among us here at this Mass in the form of bread and wine. We are so used to receiving our Lord in Holy Communion, but have lost the true sense of wonder and adoration that is fitting for such a wonderful king. At the moment of the consecration we receive an invitation to enter into complete silence while we in the words of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger "direct our eyes toward Christ, to look at him from within, in a gaze that is at once gratitude, adoration, and petition for our own transformation."
It is through discovering this sense of awe at the wonder of the Blessed Sacrament that we will find never ending peace inside of our life. As our liturgical year draws to a close with this solemnity may we continue to grow in our faith especially within our love for the Holy Eucharist. Christ the King guides us towards the Heavenly Kingdom where we will find true peace. Anytime a nation or ruler wants to ignore this reality they will never be able to find the true peace that they are in search for. Any person who is stuck with the stain of sin upon their souls should return to the sacrament of Reconciliation where they can embrace the example of the criminal upon the cross and encounter true peace. Anytime that we allow silence to enter into our hearts and truly begin to pray we will encounter this peace. When we glance at the Holy Eucharist we experience the peace that the world feels through our Lord's loving embrace. This day may we rejoice with Christ our King, embracing an unchanging Kingdom, that will bring true peace into the world and into our life.
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