Solemnity of Christ the King


And so, we’ve come to the end of another Liturgical year.  Next week, we begin the season of Advent – a time of waiting and preparing our hearts for the coming Messiah, the King of Heaven.  Today, we celebrate His Kingship!

The Solemnity of Christ the King was established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI to combat the growth secularism and atheistic views as governments threatened to push Jesus and Christianity out of the public life.  Governments will come and go, but this Feast reminds us that Christ and His Kingdom will live forever.  Pope Pius XI proclaimed, “Pax in Christi regno Christi,” (the peace of Christ in the reign of Christ), encouraging us to live in Christ’s peace when we do three things.  Daily, we must live and surrender our lives for Christ, acknowledge Him as our God, Savior, and King, and allow Him to rule our lives.  How peaceful and beautiful our world would be if everyone put these into practice!

Sadly, though, we live in a fallen world.  We’ve become victims of a secular society that has lost touch with its roots in Christ.  We raise up and worship the “kings” of pride, selfishness, power, and greed.  We succumb to those influences that distract and pull us further from God.  

Brutal honesty – the more I see these pitfalls and their lingering effects, the more I wish Christ would come sooner, rather than later, to fully establish His Kingdom.  But, would I (or you) truly be ready?  Instead of letting those thoughts bring me down, I try to focus on the good I see in the midst of this crazy world.  I count my blessings and answered prayers.  And I pray for the conversions of those who still need to know the peace of Christ and to know Him as their King.

What idols do you worship?  Which ones do you need to give up to make room for Christ?

In what way can you better live your life to honor Jesus as your King?


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