In communion with the entire Church on Sunday we celebrated the
Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. Our Lord is King, He is,
as we have just heard, "firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of
the earth." (Rev. 1:5)
However, to understand this title, "King of the Universe", we have to
almost "withhold" our modern sensibilities that are incapable of
understanding how Christ can be a King and, secondly, how this Kingship
extends not only to the Christian communities, but also to embrace the
entire Universe!
Let us start with Christ's Kingship. On Sunday we celebrated the
Feat of Christ the King.
One could ask the question, why? The
historical reason for this feast was born from secularization, that
thought process that would like to see God "removed" from public thought
and actions.
In response to this tendency, Pope Pius XI , in 1925, instituted the Solemnity of Christ the King.
The Solemnity was initiated so that all the sons of the Church would
be instructed, and their faithfulness sustained, by Catholic realism
that recognizes that the eternal Word of the Father is the foundation of
all things.
Almost one century later, following the diffusion of democracy as the
principle form of Government in the West, could the title of Christ the
King be somewhat obsolete? Should we not attribute Christ with a role
that is more fitting with our current political experience?
"You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into
the world, to testify to the truth." (Jn 18:37) Christ Himself, in the
dialogue with the Roman procurator, likened Himself to the description
of a King.
However, without any doubt, this Kingship isn't reducible to any
human power because He, Himself, affirmed: "My kingdom does not belong
to this world." (Jn 18:36) His Kingdom is of peace, justice and love.
Therefore, it is evident that, by looking at the history of modern
times, His kingdom is not of this world!
Christ's Kingdom isn't comparable to any earthly reign. His Kingship
isn't here below, it is not of this world but is rooted in God's very
being, in Heaven. "Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye
will see him." Moreover, this Kingship extends to the whole Universe!
Yes, Christ is the King of the entire universe.
He is not only King of the visible Company of the Church. He is not
only the King of those who believe in Him. He is King of the Universe,
heaven and earth, the cosmos, History and all those who knew and loved
Him and also of those who crucified Him: "I am the Alpha and the Omega,
" says the Lord God, the one who is and who was and who is to come."
How can we ask that Christ's kingship be spread to every man? After
all, couldn't this thought be invasive of our free conscience?
No! Christ's Kingship isn't simply a fact that must be recognized by
the Church, but rather that belonging to the King is experienced in the
Church. It is here that we experience that belonging that is a
communion of Life with Him rather than just being His People but part of
His Mystical Body.
Christ's Kingship comes from heaven, and therefore it is
indestructible, because it doesn't derive its legitimacy from the
precarious and changing human consensus. In fact, "all things came to be
through him, and without him nothing came to be." (Jn 1:3).
However, despite being Royal, and in possession of certain "rights",
as the Eternal Son of the Father, He states that he was born and came
into the world, "to testify to the truth." Christ was born of the Most
Holy Mary, He shared our lives, our joys and sufferings, He appeared
before Pilot only for this reason: to testify to the truth.
"What is Truth" (Jn 18:38) Let us follow the gaze of Her who stood
at the foot of the Cross, the gaze of Most Holy Mary. The Truth that
Christ, King of Martyrs, witnesses to is Himself! He is the Truth and
through Him all things were created. He is the Truth and the place
where it finds its consistency.
Christ is the Truth that was seated on the Throne of the Cross, that
refuge of splendour, to say to each of us, "I love you".
"I who am God,
loves you because God is Love!" Christ reigns in virtue of His
Omnipotent and Eternal Love. Christ, Eternal Love, Incarnate and
Crucified, reigns on the Cross and opens His Side to us so that there we
can find Liberty, Love and eternal Life. Amen!