Christ the King (B)

In the parish I have spent lots of time with families - lots of opportunities to talk to toddlers - toddlers like things simple and familiar - every now and then, though, I forget I’m talking to a toddler and use an unfamiliar word or idea - “What’s that?” - then begins the difficult task of explaining the unfamiliar word or idea - the easiest way is to compare the unfamiliar thing to something familiar - an apple is like an orange, it’s round and you can eat it - a church is like a house, it’s where God lives - toddlers learn by relating the unfamiliar to the familiar - this is how God speaks to us through Sacred Scripture - when God wants to tell us about himself, He uses familiar images drawn from all areas of human life including family, business, agriculture, and yes, even politics.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. In the encyclical letter promulgating the feast, Pius XI explained that “[i]t has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of King… [b]ut if we ponder this matter more deeply, we cannot but see that the title and the power of King belongs to Christ in the strict and proper sense too.” In other words, Jesus is not merely like a king, He is a king. Sacred Scripture clearly and consistently reveals that Christ is a King.

Ancient Israel was established as a kingdom. The first king of Israel was God himself. The day-to-day political affairs of the kingdom were seen to by stewards who acted on God’s behalf. In time, however, the people of Israel wanted a king they could see and hear, just like the other nations. Eventually God relented and Saul was anointed as king. But the human kings always disappointed. They served themselves rather than the people. They were never as good as God. God wanted to resume serving Israel as King, but he also understood the people’s desire for King like themselves. Through the prophets, God foretold the rise of a new king and a new kingdom. It was this new king that Daniel saw: “I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a son of man… On him was conferred rule, honour and kingship, and all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His rule is an everlasting rule which will never pass away, and his kingship will never come to an end.” Daniel saw Jesus, God in human form, King of the universe.

The prophets understood that Jesus would be a king unlike any other. He would rule as God and as man. As God, he would rule with genuine and unfailing love for his people. As man, he would be seen, touched and heard. Likewise, the prophets understood that Jesus’ kingdom would be unlike any other. It would be not measured by geographical territory but by souls. Citizenship would not be inherited or imposed by force but chosen freely. Order would be maintained not by coercion or fear of punishment but by love. Jesus, himself, confirms that his kingship and kingdom are unlike anything humanity has known before: “Mine is not a kingdom of this world… I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this.”

Jesus’ reigns and his kingdom is present wherever God and humanity dwell together in peace. Thus, Pope Pius XI explained that Christ exercises his kingship in the mind and will of each person. In every mind that accepts the truth of God and every will that puts it into action, God is present, dwelling with humanity. The gate of the kingdom is Baptism. In Baptism, we have accepted the truth of God and committed to putting it into action. Nevertheless, Christ does not force himself on us, even after Baptism. There is another kingdom and another king, and we remain free to choose between these two societies, as Origen, one of the fathers of the Church, explained: “There is something important that we need to understand about the kingdom of God… the kingdom of God and the kingdom of sin cannot co-exist. If we want God to reign within us, on no account may sin rule in our mortal body but let us mortify our earthly bodies and let us be made fruitful by the Spirit. Then we will be a spiritual garden of Eden for God to walk in. God will rule in us with Christ who will be enthroned in us.” For this reason, too, we have a part to play in extending Christ’s kingdom. Baptism doesn’t merely make us subjects of the king and citizens of the kingdom, it gives us an active share in Christ’s kingly authority. We have the ability to help other minds know Christ and other wills love Christ.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, reminds us that the ultimate authority in this world is God. Even when the forces of darkness seem crushing and overwhelming, God remains in control. The ultimate force at work in creation is not self-interest, fear or evil but love. Jesus is King.

Sacred Scripture clearly reveals that Jesus is a king. The people of Israel didn’t have a great experience with kings.

admits that he is simply giving clearer expression in the Church’s life to something that Christ revealed about himself.

Analogy is the art of using the familiar to explain the unfamiliar.

Sacred Scripture is replete with analogy. In Scripture, familiar realities such as shepherds and sheep, food and drink, money and marriage are deployed to speak about God.

Political image explains spiritual truth.

The solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was a time when there was much disillusionment with established political authorities. Communism was rising, feeding on humanity’s discontent with the old regimes of Europe.

I think it is fair to say that contemporary humanity is pretty disillusioned with politics.

Pedagogy is the name for educational methodology. It refers to the set of strategies or principles a teacher uses to

A political image explains a spiritual truth.

Christ is the King

Christ’s Kingship - explain, then make fundamental point that ultimate power in the universe is a personal love that serves me - psalm

Christ governs a Kingdom

As King, Christ rules a Kingdom - “my kingdom is not of this world” - that is, it originates outside this world, but it is nevertheless in this world - that kingdom exists in souls, human hearts, rather than in a particular place or territory - no one is forced to enter - we can choose - there is another King and another Kingdom

We enter the Kingdom through Baptism, and the Church, which is the society of the baptised, is the visible presence of the Kingdom

No doubt many of you have social media accounts. In setting up a social media account, the first thing you always do is complete your profile. You upload an image of yourself and provide information

Sacred Scripture uses images of familiar and homely images to God. Sheep, shepherds, banquets, money and marriage a

Jesus’ parables are a good example. The parables are stories or lessons that use familiar situations and experiences to explain spiritual truths. Jesus uses images of shepherds and sheep and banquets to explain who God is, who humanity is, and how God and humanity relate to each other. Many of the images Jesus uses in his parables occur throughout the Bible. One of the most common images is marriage. From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion, marriage is held up as reliable insight into the sort of relationship God wants to have with us.

The Solemnity was established in 1925, at a time when confidence in worldly authority was at a profound low. Pope Pius XI saw that the root issue was forgetfulness of the supernatural.

God is in control. He is the ultimate authority. The ultimate force at work in creation is love. Jesus is King of the universe.

Quotes from Quas primas

The “manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.”

“It has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of ‘King,’ because of the high degree of perfection whereby he excels all creatures. So He is said to reign ‘in the hearts of men’...

In the intellect - he reveales the truth

“He reigns too in the wills of men”

“If we ponder this matter more deeply, we cannot but see that the title of King belongs to Christ as man in the strict and proper sense too...