Background
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe is by the corner. Also known as thirty-fourth Sunday of the Year or last Sunday of the year, this celebration urges the people of God to reappraise the Lord’s kingship and rulership over their lives even as it assures of our eternal destiny with the King in the kingdom of light and peace. Although the celebration of Christ the King first took place in 1926, Pope Pius XI instituted the feast in his 1925 Encyclical Quas Primas. The celebration emerged in the midst of the rise of Communism in Russia and during the 16th centenary of the Council of Nicaea (325) as an aftermath of the First World War. The feast was a response to the rise of secularization, atheism, and communism. The interesting part of this event is that despite its Catholic origins, it is celebrated by many Protestants such as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians. The celebration was, however, moved to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time in 1970. This piece attempts to present an overview, objectives and aims of the celebration as well as the pastoral applications.
Liturgical Considerations
The first reading (2 Sam 5:1-3) recounts how David was anointed by God as shepherd, prince and king over Israel. It is no mistake that Christ comes from the Davidic dynasty to reign as King. Although the Jewish leaders would mockingly compare Jesus with David, the anointed one, little did they know that they were stating the obvious as later, that identity would be revealed by the good-thief on the cross as the gospel relates. In the second reading, (Col. 1:12-20) Saint Paul reveals that we have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light – meaning that we are legitimate heirs of God’s kingdom. He adds that we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and catapulted to the kingdom of his Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. In this kingdom, he says, we are forgiven. He sums his catechesis by insisting that God’s kingdom is everlasting because all things were created through him and for him noting that he is the beginning and the end. The gospe (Luke 23:35-43) discloses the drama that took place between Jesus and the two thieves. By saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power,” the good-thief reveals the true identity of Jesus as King. God’s kingdom was inaugurated at the incarnation. By this, Jesus established a dynasty while reminding his followers that the real kingdom lays in heaven. Not only did Christ come to announce the second coming of God’s kingdom but also to prepare the elect for their spiritual responsibilities. That he would come again to judge the living and the dead calls for a sober reflection on a day like this. We must access ourselves whether we have been faithful heirs of the kingdom. This leads us to the appropriate pastoral lessons.
Why Christ The King Celebration?
By instituting this celebration in 1925, the Holy Father Pope Pius XI wanted the solemnity to impact on the faithful in the following ways:
• “To enable them gain strength and courage upon meditating on these truths so as to live ideal Christian lives.” At a time when Christian persecution is rife, the Church expects us to use this celebration to pray for the release of Leah Sharibu and others who are in the custody of Boko Haram and kidnappers even as we ask Christ the King to grant us the spirit of courage to live ideal Christian lives in the face of persecution.
• “To facilitate our becoming subject to Christ’s dominion without exempting any of our faculties since his power embraces all peoples.” We are challenged to use our faculties to embrace the love of Christ by expanding our perspective of God as one who redeems.
• “To let him reign in our minds, which must assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths, and to the doctrines of Christ.” Since our mind is the engine room of the body, we are expected to set our minds on the things that are in heaven (Cf. Col. 3:1-4).
• “To let Christ reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. It is impossible to please the King if our wills do not go in tandem with God’s. This includes the will to do good and remain faithful.”
• “To let him reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires, and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone.” Bearing in mind that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth flows” (Mat.12:34), we are charged to use this event to preoccupy our hearts with lofty and holy thoughts by always gazing on God and;
• “To let him reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for interior sanctification of our souls, or instruments of justice unto God as Saint Paul would say.” Since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are charged to seek the reign of God in our bodies by offering our lives as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-5) acceptable unto the King (God).
Lessons for Contemporary Christians
First, this celebration invites us to live ideal Christian lives by meditating on truths of the gospel having being empowered with strength and courage. Second, Christians are urged to facilitate being subjects of God’s dominion without exempting any of our faculties bearing in mind that his power embraces all peoples. Third, the faithful are encouraged to let God reign in our minds, wills, hearts and bodies which should serve as instruments for interior sanctification of our souls, or instruments of justice unto God as Saint Paul would say. Fourth, story has it that while Jesus’ mother, Mary and foster father, Joseph were on their way to Egypt, a dreaded gang of robbers ambushed them. While the other thieves were bent on robbing the family, the baby-Jesus smiled. At that point, the good thief ordered his colleagues to spare the Holy Family. Apparently, while on the cross, Jesus remembered the kindness of this thief and since one good turn deserves another, he spared him the fires of hell. Fifth, Christ the King celebration gives us the chance to resist caging ourselves in murky situations. The occasion reminds us that since God, our King is on the throne, it shall be well with us – this, however, demands looking at our situation with “the eyes of faith rather than “the eyes of situation.”
Conclusion
The celebration of Christ the King reminds us about St. Augustine’s popular phrase in his seminal book, The City of God namely, City of God and City of Men. The implication of this thesis is that while God controls the affairs of men in both heaven and earth, human beings are sadly preoccupied with mundane interests as though they created themselves. The lesson is clear – This event calls us to relive our baptismal commitment by embracing God’s kingship over our lives as sons and daughters who share in the priestly, kingly and prophetic mission of Christ. May the Eucharistic adoration and joyous chants associated with this celebration enrich our faith both now and forever. Justine John Dyikuk, a Catholic priest, is a Lecturer of Mass Communication, University of Jos-Nigeria, Senior Fellow, International Religious Freedom Policy, Religious Freedom Institute (RFI), Washington DC and PhD Candidate, University of Strathclyde Glasgow, United Kingdom.
• Fr. Justin Dyikuk is a Lecturer of Mass Communication, University of Jos and Editor, Caritas Newspaper and Convener, Media Team Network Initiative (MTNI), Nigeria.
