“The Father has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13)

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 present 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 reminder of Christ’s enduring rule of love, recently, our diocesan bishop, Cardinal Collins, wrote a pastoral letter on the Sacred Heart entitled “Heart Speaks to Heart.” This letter calls all of us to reflect on the reality of Christ’s unconditional love for each of us throughout the many difficult and trying times that we experience throughout life. 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 mercy which Christ has towards all people, even as He himself is being crucified between two other criminals. How amazing, that as we conclude the liturgical year, and our reading of the Gospel of Luke, the story that is chosen to display the nature of Christ’s Kingship is that of His crucifixion and His mercy in the face of such treatment. Pope Francis has called the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of Mercy. It shows a Jesus who is always reaching out to those on the margins, that they might be forgiven and learn of the power of God’s love. It is in the Gospel of Luke that we hear Jesus beg His Father to forgive those who have crucified Him as He cries out: “Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). This mercy is also fully on display today as we hear Jesus promise the repentant thief on the cross with Him who cries out for mercy: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). No matter how difficult or messy our lives become, we need never despair that we cannot be forgiven by God; with repentance, He will always grant us His forgiveness. In a cancel culture, Jesus assures us that He will never cancel out those who turn to Him with repentance and ask forgiveness.

I am reminded of a story, which I know I have told before, that illustrates God’s love for us. Often, we can compare God’s love for us to the way others on the journey of life may speak to us or treat us. For example, when we are driving in a car with someone and we do not take their advice, and go in a direction different than that which they tell us, they might start to yell at us and call us names. God, however, always speaks to us like the GPS system in our cars. When we make a wrong turn, or go in the wrong direction, God does not desire to yell at us, or call us names, rather like the GPS in the car, He simply says “RECALCULATING.” God’s Plan of Salvation (GPS) for us is to be navigated from wherever we are when we call out to him—even if we are hanging on a cross next to Him like the thief in today’s Gospel. The repentant thief on the cross with Jesus is known as “The Good Thief, St. Dismas.” A parish by this name was built across from the Kingston Penitentiary and it always occurred to me that this was a great way to remind those in the prison that with Christ forgiveness is always available to all who ask for it. The King, that we celebrate on this solemnity of Christ the King, is one of unconditional love and mercy for all people. St. Luke emphasises the extent to which Christ will go to save all people—the poor, the lonely and sinners—by beginning his Gospel with the birth of Christ in a stable and manger, and concluding it with Him forgiving a criminal and those who crucified Him at the end. He is a King of love, peace and mercy.

As we conclude our reading of Luke’s Gospel for this liturgical year, and prepare to begin a new liturgical year next weekend on the First Sunday of Advent, I would like to suggest three different themes or take-aways that we might consider as we read this Gospel on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. These three thoughts are:

1. As we conclude this liturgical year on the Solemnity of Christ the King with a Gospel that proclaims how merciful and forgiving Christ is to all who repent, we are reminded that Jesus wishes to forgive every sin for which we repent. This gives us cause for much hopefulness. The difficult nature of this past few years may have led us to act in ways that we are aware were sinful. Advent is a wonderful time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As we prepare to welcome Christ into our hearts, and the world, this coming Christmas, we can take the time to go to Confession and turn away from whatever sins have distanced us from the Lord. With Lent, Advent is traditionally thought of as one of those exceptional times to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Along with the parish’s normal time for Confessions on Saturday afternoon, we will also have a Day of Confessions on Saturday, December 17^th from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, with a number of confessors from outside the parish. Please consider the past year and examine your heart to discern how celebrating this Sacrament of Christ’s forgiveness might help you to open your heart to allow Christ to be born there this coming Christmas. The mercy we hear proclaimed in the Gospel this Sunday is available to all who ask for it through repentance.
2. As Christ asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him, and offered forgiveness to the Good Thief, we are also called to forgive those who have sinned against us. Each time that we pray the “Our Father,” we always pray that we may be forgiven, as we forgive others. I think this is something we might gloss-over without comprehending what is being asked of us. As I mentioned, the way Christ treats us is so contrary to the “Cancel Culture,” which deletes someone for saying the wrong thing. However, just as we wish not to be cancelled by Christ and desire to be forgiven, so too we are called to forgive others. Again, as we come to the end of this liturgical year and prepare for Christmas, perhaps we can review our year and ask ourselves whom we need to forgive and un-cancel. The Christian is required to show others the same mercy that is sought from God. As we prepare to sit down with family and loved ones at Christmas, what relationships are we being called to mend or allow Christ’s healing grace to renew. Who can we send a Christmas card to in the hopes that it will allow us to reconnect? To follow Christ the King of Mercy and Love brings the challenge to be a people of mercy and love towards our brothers and sisters.
3. Finally, as we conclude the Gospel of Luke, I cannot help but observe the messy conditions of life that this Gospel presents our Lord entering into in order to bring hope to, and salvation, to humanity. At the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus’ parents are ordered by an occupying Roman Army to return to their hometown to take part in a census. At that time, as they are away from home, He is born in a barn and placed in a manger. He is not even provided with a room where He can be born. His beginning is as unsettling as His end on a cross at the hands of the same occupying army between two thieves. Jesus is born into a troubled world and leaves a troubled world. He comes to assure us of God’s presence with us in the midst of our troubles. Luke’s Gospel is complimented by his other work, the Acts of the Apostles. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells of the way that Christ continues to be present to a troubled world through the work of His Church. This Church is sent to continue Christ’s work by proclaiming His saving message, making Him present and praying that the forces of evil will be defeated by the Gospel message. Christians are called to work for the good through their actions and prayer. We are to pray that evil will not prevail and that all will turn away from sin, repent, and be forgiven and embrace the Good News of Christ the King. One of the prayers that has been prayed for assistance against evil is the prayer of “St. Michael the Archangel.” Cardinal Collins has been asking parishes to consider praying this prayer at the end of Mass and recently the pastoral council asked that we do so as a parish. It seemed to me that the end of one liturgical year and the beginning of a new one was a good time to begin this practice. The prayer has been placed in each pew for us to pray at the end of all Masses.

This Sunday, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, may we all work to be subjects of the King of Love and Mercy, by being a people who strive to share this reality of God’s love and mercy with our brothers and sisters.

Let’s conclude with the prayer to St. Michael:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil. 
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; 
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host –
by the Power of God – 
cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits, 
who roam throughout the world 
seeking the ruin of souls. 

Amen.

May God bless you and your families in the coming season of Advent.

Fr. Michael McGourty,
Pastor—St. Peter’s Parish—Toronto, Ontario

This reflection based on the readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King—Year C: 2 Samuel 5: 1-3; Psalm 122; Colossians 1: 12-20; and Luke 23: 35-43.