Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This solemnity serves as the culmination of our liturgical year and sums up the fact that Christ is the Chosen one, He is the Messiah, and He is the King of the Jews.
There were voices which mocked His kingship saying, “He saved others, let him save himself.” They were unable to see that He had come to save us and not Himself. Through the throne that is the cross we have been redeemed for He has been lifted up upon it.
From this gift that we have received we must choose to allow the Lord to penetrate into our life. The good thief understood this as he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Likewise, we must turn our sight towards Him and make such a profession of faith.
At this Mass there are those among us who will make a Profession of Faith and be received fully into the life of the Church through confirmation and the Eucharist. As they profess the fulness of faith we must also come to live out what we profess in thought, word, and deed.
It was upon the cross that His blood was spilled for us and through the spilling of His blood we have been made a part of His kingdom. From the Book of Revelation, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”
Let us come to understand that we have been given a share in His kingship through our baptism. Through our baptism we were incorporated into Christ in order to share in His role as priest, prophet, and king. We exercise Christ’s kingship by governing our life and relationships towards the service of God. In doing so we lead others to God’s Kingdom and do not get caught up in the allure of worldly power.
Such a reality can only be lived in so far as we are willing to live the Gospel without compromise. So many see no need to commit their self to such a state. They might attend church on Sunday, but choose to not live what they have received in the midst of the world. The gospel isn’t a message of suggestions, but is a way of life that cannot be silenced.
It was for this reason that Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925. He did so in order that the rising secularism, atheism, and communism following World War I would be opposed. In this day and age we must continue to combat such realities for they run rampant in our world. As Christians we must oppose such realities and set our sight towards Christ, in order that we may continue to build up His Kingdom on this earth by living out the gospel, and thus the faith without compromise.
Long live Christ the King!
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