The Kingship of Christ
Summary
- Introduction to Christ's Kingship
- Christ's Essence as King
- Reactions to Christ’s Kingship
- Modern Expectations vs. Christ’s Kingship
- The World’s Rejection of Christ’s Authority
- Serving Christ as King
- The Call to Fight for Christ the King
- The Role of the Holy Mass
- Personal and Social Proclamation of Christ’s Kingship
- Conclusion: A Glimpse into Eternity
Introduction to Christ's Kingship
Such a beautiful feast day. Christ, the king. Where we have the opportunity to. To. You do so much good in proclaiming our Lord Jesus Christ as our King. But more than, of course, just simple words are supposed to be positive, concrete, real actions. We are supposed to truly show that Christ is king. He is king. This is the truth for which he came into the world. He says so himself, for this came into the world to proclaim this truth. And everyone who hears my voice hears the truth. Everyone that is of the truth. Here is my voice. The truth that our Lord Jesus Christ wanted brought to us is the fact that He is king.
Christ's Essence as King
He is king by the very essence of who he is, because our Lord Jesus Christ is God and as God, He is the source and the fount of all things. He is the origin of all being. He is the source of all truth and good and beauty and everything that is comes from him. And just therefore by simple might of the fact of who he is, he is king by its very nature. He cannot not be king.
Reactions to Christ’s Kingship
But if we look at the time of his crucifixion, we see a bit of a microcosm of how people treat the kingship of Christ today. Pilate, with his snide remark, "Art Thou, then a king. Am I a Jew? What is truth?"—which is the very next quote after this—does everything he can to just kind of sneer at the very idea of the kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Modern Expectations vs. Christ’s Kingship
For the Romans as well as for the Jews that were at that time, there were different ideas and expectations of what it meant for Christ to be king. For the Sadducees, Pharisees, and even for the Apostles, unfortunately, they had this notion of the conquering coming of Christ. Many people today imagine that Christ will come in fire and glory, destroying everything on Earth and establishing a kingdom that will last a thousand years in his name. But that's not how Christ came.
The World’s Rejection of Christ’s Authority
The Pharisees and the Sadducees and even His Apostles either betrayed him, crucified him, or fled from him. For the Romans and Herodians, they didn’t seem to care about the kingship of Christ, as long as it didn’t interfere with their own schemes and goals. Pilate himself couldn’t care less about him, only continuing with the crucifixion because he was blackmailed by the Jews and Pharisees.
Serving Christ as King
The Herodians also didn’t care what our Lord claimed, as long as it didn’t challenge their authority. They could never follow him, never accept him. This is the mentality we see all around us today. People say it’s fine if you believe that Christ is King, but don’t make me believe it. They want Christ to conform to their own image and expectations.
The Call to Fight for Christ the King
Our Lord brings an uncomfortable truth: He is the king, the only king, the one true king. The world rejects this doctrine. This is the doctrine most fought against in the early 20th century, even within the Church. Religious liberty has become the core doctrine of every country that rejects Christ, because acknowledging His kingship threatens their sovereignty.
The Role of the Holy Mass
We are called to fight for the rights of Christ the King because it is right and just; it is who He is. He is king by nature because He is God, the Creator and the origin of all things. The Mass exemplifies His kingship, showing us how He is King because no one but God Himself could do what is done there. Simple elements like bread and wine are transformed into His very self.
Personal and Social Proclamation of Christ’s Kingship
Our lives belong to Him on both natural and supernatural levels. Through baptism, we participate in the very nature of God. He has given us life two times over, and our lives, both on earth and in heaven, belong entirely to Him. We must consecrate ourselves personally to His service, and socially proclaim His kingship over all nations.
Conclusion: A Glimpse into Eternity
During the Mass, Christ offers us a glimpse into the kingdom of heaven. By participating, we glimpse the glory and mercy of God, our place at His side. The Mass gives us hope, even as the world rejects His kingship. Christ reigns today, yesterday, and forever. By proclaiming Him king, we work not only for our salvation but for the salvation of others, that all may enter the eternal kingdom in heaven and live with Him forever.