CHRIST The KING
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November 23, 2024Dear St. Paul Family and Friends: In this time when things are rough, when the world is ravage by conflicts and divisions and when modern thinking try to undermine the beauty of faith and power of God, we can take comfort in our celebration this Sunday, the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, a reminder that Jesus stands in infinite power above any other else.
Our Scriptural readings this weekend reflect two contrasting images for Jesus: the one who comes on the clouds to receive dominion, glory and kingship and the one standing before Pilate being interrogated about his identity. The king coming in the clouds is the crucified one on the cross. In our First Reading, Daniel presents to us the vision, “the one like a Son of man received dominion,glory, and kingship all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.” (Daniel 7:14) Daniel’s vision evidently shows that there will be an end to the uncertainties in this world.His reign will take everything under His Kingship. This Kingship will continue to testify to the truth, as Jesus said in our Gospel, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37) because He Himself is the truth. May we choose Jesus not because we have been told to do so by others, but because we too have an intimate and personal relationship with Him as the Truth. Only in listening to the voice of He that is theTruth, do we discover our purpose and live a life of fulfillment, “so that we may have life, life in its fullness.” (John 10:10).
As we celebrate this great Solemnity, we remember how Pope Pius XI stated in his Encyclical Quas Primas introducing the Solemnity of Christ the King in 1925: “He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truth sand to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘as instruments of justice unto God.” (Quas Primas #33, 1925).
On November 28th, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day and itis fitting to note that as we thank everything that has been transpired all throughout the year, for all the blessings we have reaped, we thank God the most for His goodness and for continually guiding us. May we let our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe continue to reign in our hearts forever.
Have a Blessed Solemnity of Jesus, King of the Universe and Happy Thanksgiving Day!
