On the last Sunday of every liturgical year, which this Sunday is, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King—King of the Universe. Next Sunday, we will begin a new liturgical year as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent.
The Solemnity of Christ the King takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year to remind us that at the end of time, Christ will come to judge the living and the dead. The solemnity is intended to remind us that we are to be ready to meet Christ when He comes by being ready to meet Him today and always. While Christians have always believed that Jesus was their king, this liturgical feast was established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. He instituted it in troubled times to remind Catholics that the worldly powers that were causing such political turmoil at the time were only temporary and passing. The true Kingship over humanity belonged to Christ and Christians ought to be more concerned with following Christ than those passing worldly powers. At the same time that Pius XI instituted the feast, he suggested that as it was celebrated all Catholics ought to renew their consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pius XI’s motto as Pope was: “Christ’s Peace through Christ’s reign.”
Although it was almost one hundred years ago that this feast was introduced into the liturgical year by Pope Pius XI, the importance of its message in these difficult times remains. The political events in the world today have many people disturbed as they wonder how certain political leaders can behave in certain ways. As I think of the political situation around the world, I am reminded that even during the time of Christ, the political situation was quite difficult. Jesus’ country was being inhabited by the foreign Roman army and the King of the Jews, King Herod, was famous for his cruelty and tyrannical ways. Despite this, Jesus keeps His eyes fixed on doing the will of the Father and knows that His disciples will be sent out to live in this difficult situation. Instead of counselling them to despair, Jesus calls them to live in the hope of being God’s people and of working to build a just world through their individual acts of charity and compassion. In the face of their situation, Jesus calls His disciples to live the Beatitudes and to build the Kingdom of God by recognizing all people as their brothers and sisters.
As parishioners of St. Peter’s Parish in Toronto, it is perhaps significant that our own parish church was being built in 1925 at the time that Pius XI was instituting this solemnity as a feast to be celebrated in the liturgical year. One of the most beautiful pieces of art that our parish possesses is the statue of the Sacred Heart that is found in our church. This statute was placed in our church at a time that Pius XI was inviting all Catholics to acknowledge Christ’s reign by consecrating humanity to the Sacred Heart of Christ. What a beautiful image of who our King is—the Lord of Mercy who allowed His heart to be pierced for our salvation. The political powers who ruled in the time of Pius XI no longer exist. We have different troubles in our own day. However, Christ’s rule continues and His mercy and grace continue to change hearts and win disciples. As a sign of Christ’s enduring rule, this church building, and many others, have remained standing throughout the Great Depression, Wars and now a worldwide pandemic. On this Solemnity of Christ the King, you and I are called to a confidence in Christ and His power over all things—even death itself.
The image of the Sacred Heart proclaims the type of King that Christ is. We hear of this type of kingship in today’s Gospel as it tells of the judgement that will come at the end of time. When Christ the King comes at the end of time, to judge the living and the dead, we will not be judged by our wealth, possessions or titles. You and I will be judged by how we treated our brothers and sisters. To the extent that we saw Christ the King in those in need and recognized them as our fellow citizens of Heaven, we will have done what our King has asked of us. As He gave His life to save all people, we too are called to recognize all as our brothers and sisters. No matter who our political rulers are in this passing world, we who acknowledge Christ to be our King, can never forget that we are all brothers and sisters—coheirs to Heaven. Through our baptisms, we are called to see Christ in those whom we encounter. As Christ the King will say to us: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”
This past October, on the Feast of St. Francis, Pope Francis issued a social encyclical entitled “Tutti Fratelli.” It is written very much in the spirit of this Sunday’s Gospel to remind all Christians of their duty of charity towards all persons. This charity is owed to all men and women because of the fact that Christ is the King of all of us and we are all children of the one Father who has created all and has given life to all. Christ, who is our King, has died and risen so that all may have life and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. The Sacred Heart of Christ has been pierced to give life to all. Because we are all God’s children, Pope Francis calls upon all of us to be concerned for the poor and the marginalized. His letter is a call to live the Gospel that we hear proclaimed this Sunday.
In the midst of the political uncertainty and reality that we find ourselves living in today, Pope Francis recalls the story of the Good Samaritan as model for how we are to treat others. It is important to recall that Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the question: “Who is my neighbour.” The conclusion to this story is not too different from today’s Gospel story. Our neighbour, our brother or sister, is the one whom we encounter in need. How you and I are to act towards those in need is stated quite clearly in today’s Gospel from Matthew, chapter 25, as we read: “’Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’” This Gospel passages summarizes what you and I are called to do and be as we celebrate this Solemnity of Christ the King.
This past year 2020 has been a very difficult year for many. In so many areas of our lives, we have all experienced a certain type of powerlessness. Whether it be in regard to COVID 19 or to certain political realities beyond our borders and control, we have come to see that so many things are beyond our control. There is something over which we do all have control. The control that we have is in regard to whom we decide to allow to rule our hearts and in whom we ultimately place our hope and confidence in. On this Solemnity of Christ the King, you and I are invited to place our hope and trust in Christ. We do this by acknowledging Him as our Lord and Saviour and by seeking to serve Him through acts of charity to our brother and sisters.
This coming Christmas is likely to be like no other Christmas many of us have ever experienced. As a result of COVID 19 the plans of many are likely to be very different. Some will be alone this Christmas and we may not be able to visit our families. Given these circumstances, the call of this Sunday’s Gospel to serve Christ our King in our needy brothers and sisters can be a call to charity like we have not shown in any past Christmas. The kind of charity that this Christmas might call us to is not one that involves just giving money or gifts. This Christmas, we might consider reaching out to others with real gifts of friendship and time. If we know of neighbours who are alone, this is a Christmas to reach out with gifts of time through phone calls or video encounters. If there is a senior citizen on our street, we might consider taking them a Christmas dinner or offering to do shopping for them. This might even be the Christmas we consider reading to someone over the phone. In the event that there is a shutdown, I would even encourage you to take the time to read Pope Francis’ encyclical “Tutti Fratelli,” to consider how you might enthrone Christ in your heart through greater acts of charity to your brothers and sisters.
People sometimes say: “If Christ were here today,” or “if I had lived in Christ’s time I would have done such and such.” As we celebrate today the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Gospel reminds us that Christ is here today in our brothers or sisters in need. We are invited to serve Christ as He comes to us in those who are in need of our love and charity. This past year has taught us that there is so much that is beyond our control. It has also taught us what we can control. One of the few things that you and I can control is whom we allow to rule over our hearts and whom we will acknowledge as our King and Saviour. At the end of this liturgical year, we are asked to acknowledge Christ as our King and Saviour. We are invited to renew our own efforts to follow after our King, who is the Lord who allowed His Heart to be pierced for the salvation of all people. Christ the King has made us all His brothers and sisters by dying so that we may have life. Let us all acknowledge His rule over our lives by living as brothers and sisters who care for one another in these difficult times.
On this Solemnity of Christ the King, may the words of today’s Gospel penetrate the hearts of all of us: “And the King will say to them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
Fr. Michael McGourty
Pastor—St. Peter’s Parish—Toronto
This reflection based on the readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King— Year A: Ezekiel 34: 11-12; 15-17; Psalm 23; 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28; and Matthew 25: 31-46.
For Pope Francis’s encyclical Tutti Fratelli please see: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
