Christ the King

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It is interesting to note that this feast was added to the liturgical calendar by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Nationalism and fascism were on the rise across Europe in the wake of World War I. The feast was meant to remind followers of Jesus that our allegiance is not any earthly ruler or nation. Our primary allegiance is to God and the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospel passage Jesus is standing before Pilate, who has the power to sentence Jesus to death. Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king. Jesus says: “my kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus came to proclaim and to usher in the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of justice, mercy, peace and love. Jesus came to turn the world upside down and to usher in the reign of God. Pilate could not stop that, even by having Jesus killed. Spiritual power defeats earthly power every time.
 
In reflecting on this feast of Christ the King, my friend Bishop Craig Loya says:
  “The point is that Jesus is unlike any and all political and institutional powers in the world. Instead of privileging one tribe, language, or nation, Jesus builds the Beloved Community gathered around God’s feast of love. Instead of making himself big in order to win, Jesus comes to us small and humble. Instead of clinging to his identity with entitlement, Jesus leads by serving. Instead of putting himself first, he lives by dying. That is how the God of all creation presides over the whole cosmos… 
  We are invited in these days, and all days, to follow our spiritual ancestors in pointing to Christ the King of peace. We point to that kingdom by sowing God’s reckless generosity wherever we go, by meeting the hatred and vitriol all around with God’s love, by standing with those the world’s kingdoms constantly push aside, and by walking day by day the way of the cross of Jesus, which alone can bring true life, true liberation, true peace, and true joy.” 

Let us keep the words of hymn #74 in our minds and hearts: “Blest be the King whose coming is in the name of God! For him let doors be opened, no hearts against him barred! Not robed in royal splendor, in power and pomp, comes he; but clad as are the poorest, such his humility!”

Peace and Blessings,
Bill+