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Christ the King

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Cycle B -- Last Sunday of the Liturgical Year

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B242: Jesus wasn't an "earthly" king, in our modern sense of monarchs and potentates. So why do we celebrate today the Solemnity of "Our Lord Jesus Christ the King"?

This feast day was established in 1925. If you recall your history, you will remember that this was a time of rising totalitarian nationalism, when the "State" was becoming more than supreme, even dictating everyone's way of life and way of thinking. Communism was on the rise in Stalin's Russia and elsewhere; Nazism was on the near horizon in Hitler's Germany; Fascism was a reality in Mussolini's Italy. Everything and everyone was made subservient to the State. People were beginning to believe the "lie."

The Church responded with today's liturgical feast, which proclaims that Jesus Christ is the only true sovereign. He is Christ, the eternal King, to whom everyone must pay homage. It is Christ who must rule our minds and hearts, not the State. It is the values that Jesus taught us (e.g., the Beatitudes) that must rule our minds, not the edicts or whims of the State. Not long after this special feast day was established, the popes continued with encyclicals which pointed out the hazards and untruths of totalitarian nationalistic thinking - including their infringements on religious freedom and the dignity of mankind.

In today's gospel (Jn 18:33b-37) Jesus tells Pilate, the leader of the Roman occupation in Judea, that "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Jesus is identifying himself with truth itself, something that Pilate could not comprehend inasmuch as he was "living the lie" of having the State serve (albeit by force) as the idol of humankind. Today, idolatry of the State continues in many countries, such as China and North Korea (communism). It always leads to the dehumanization of civilization.

Know Your Catechism! Pope Leo XIII and Pius XI, among others, were watchful that the Church fulfill its mission of showing forth the kingship of Christ over all creation and - in particular - over human societies (CCC #2105). Thus, the State can never rightfully prevent anyone from their religious beliefs and from receiving the dignity due to humans as images of Christ (CCC #2106). What is your relationship to Jesus? Have you accepted him without conditions as your Lord and Savior and King? How do you live that out, in your relationship to the State?

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His Kingship shall not be destroyed

Victor Emmanuel III became king of Italy in 1900. As head of this small constitutional monarchy, he was sufficiently harmless to be popular for a number of years. However, with the rise of Fascism in 1922, King Victor invited its founder, Benito Mussolini to become prime minister. The King's choice was not voluntary, but the only way he could prevent revolution and also save his own crown. Mussolini then made himself a dictator, meanwhile buttering up Victor Emmanuel after the Italian conquest of Ethiopia in 1935 by declaring him emperor of that African country.

The "Duce" joined Hitler's Germany in declaring war on the Allies in 1940 and 1941. When the Allies entered Italy in 1943, the King finally sided with Mussolini's enemies, ousting the Duce from office. But Victor had already lost face because of his tolerance of Mussolini; so he abdicated on May 9, 1946. He was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Umberto, as King Umberto II. But only one month later, the citizens of Italy, in a national referendum, voted to change their government from a kingdom to a republic. Part of the new law provided that Umberto II, king for only a month, had to go into perpetual exile. So he as popularly dubbed "the King of the May" moved to Portugal.

When Umberto, aged and ailing - and terribly lonesome for his native land, begged the Italian government to let him come home to die. He promised not to agitate for the restoration of the Italian monarchy.

Before Italy could decide this plea - no longer the plea of a political schemer but of a homesick old man - Umberto died. But his case, even more than that of his father, illustrates the impermanence of earthly power.

The kingship of Christ; on the other hand, is not earthly but heavenly. So as the prophet Daniel predicted "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away. His kingship shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7,14. Today's first reading.)

-Father Robert F. McNamara

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Q399: The word "King" doesn't do much for me today, as an American. How can I relate the gospel (Jn 18:33-37) to my own life?

I sometimes wonder what image the "average" person calls to mind when he hears the word "King." Dictators and monarchs are mostly a reality of the past, and now seem to be simply a link to a time of ancient glories and conquests. No offense is intended in the view that a modern "king" is simply a memory to cling to, akin to our "national historical sites" - to be carefully preserved but not used. It is part of our heritage, and in some quarters a source of national pride. Kings had several things in common: they were rich; they didn't "mix" with the common hoi-polloi; and unlimited power was their instrument for stability.

With Christ the King we encounter a quite different kind of king. By his very life and manner of death he showed the world that the only riches that count are the riches of selfless love. This king also spent all of his public life mingling with the hoi-polloi, the common folk, showing us that every person has equal dignity in the eyes of God. Finally, this king also had unlimited power - he worked miracles, healed the marginalized, and promised to share his power with us.

In the gospel story (Jn 18:33-37) Jesus sets Pontius Pilate straight, when he told him he had the wrong view of king and kingdom when it came to the Messiah. THIS king came to speak the truth; his followers will "hear" his voice, if they are committed to the truth.

Today we "hear" the voice of Jesus when we read Holy Scripture, and when we study how the Magisterium (teaching office of the Roman Catholic Church) applies Jesus' words to modern life. Are you "listening" to both, and then acting on those truths?

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Every baptized Catholic is called to profess the truth whenever a witness to the faith, to the truth, is required (CCC #2471). Our Church teaches that it is an obligation, indeed a joyful one, to witness to their faith by the example of their lives and the witness of their words (CCC #2472).

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Q555: Are today’s readings compatible? Jesus in chains, and Daniel’s “Son of man” in heavenly glory?

How do you describe the indescribable? “One like a Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven” to stand before the Ancient One who has white hair, bright clothes, and a fiery throne — this is the author-prophet’s attempt to explain his dream vision (Daniel 7:9-14). The reality itself is simply that this is a judgment scene of human kings before the eternal throne of God and Christ the King, whose glory and power is so awesome that mere human kings and thrones are laughable. The descriptions also reveal a God who will not force humans beyond their capacity to understand. Or as the scholastic theologian Thomas Aquinas would say, “grace builds on nature” – we can only understand a tiny bit and only when these divine things are described for us by inadequate human terms.

There is a long tradition going back to the Early Church Fathers that this “Son of man” refers to the Messiah, especially since Jesus used that as a self-description many times. The implications are enormous for believers. Would you reject the everlasting, all-powerful and eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ, and choose to follow only an earthly king whose dominion and power is limited and will be judged? Does your daily behavior reflect your choice?

This King Jesus and his kingdom are quiet unique. As he tells us (John 18:33b-37), his kingdom is not of this world. So we are called to trust, to believe, to have faith in the words of this Son of man we call Jesus. Those who did not believe rejected him and led him to the Cross. As believers, we look forward with hope to the time when we will join him in his kingdom – and the only way to enter is to belong to the truth, to listen to his voice, believe, and act on his words. Even kingdom kids may be led to the cross!

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Jesus is the faithful witness who came to bear witness to the truth of God’s love. God is Truth itself, and for that reason we can abandon ourselves to Him in full trust and faithfulness to his word. To do otherwise is to accept the falsehoods of the tempter. (CCC 215,217) Do you read scripture daily to discover this Truth?

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