The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe C ~ Susan McGurgan, D.Min.

This Sunday,

the Solemnity of Christ the King,

marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year.

It is the pivot to Advent,

looking forward

to the final judgment of God

when Christ returns

to rule in justice.

At the same time,

this feast invites us to look back,

celebrating the life of Jesus,

our Lord,

who sits at the right hand of God.

The word,

“King”

carries a lot of weight, though—

a lot of history,  

a lot of…

well,  

baggage.

Heavy baggage.

It is a word that conjures up

golden crowns,

purple robes

jeweled scepters,

and earthly power.

It is a word

that invites us into a landscape of

privilege and influence;

a world of wealth and might—

a place where a few “have”

and many “have not.”   

The word, “King”

speaks of a world denied to most of us.

A world that can be cruel,

Unjust,

Patriarchal.

Remote.

A world that uses people as goods

to be bought and sold to the highest bidder;

a world that uses people as canon fodder

to be squandered as pawns on a chess board.

So, what does the Church mean

by this feast?

Why do we celebrate

Kingship

in a world where people are so often

betrayed and abused

by powerful leaders and worldly reigns?

How do we reconcile a golden crown

with a circle of thorns?

How do we embrace

both throne and manger?

How do we live in the space

that hovers between palace and cross?

We can say that the image of King

invites us to contemplate eternity,

and anticipate

the mercy and love that awaits us.

We can say that these images

redeem Kingship

and bless power that is used rightly.

We can say that these images

remind us

that Christ will come again in glory,

to begin a reign of justice.

And all this would be true.

And yet,

there is more to this feast than that.

This feast is a pointed and direct rebuke

to tyrants, dictators, fascists—

to all leaders dare to abuse power

and use people.

Pope Pius created this feast day in 1925,

The same year Hitler published Mein Kampf.

The same year Mussolini assumed power in Italy.

The same year totalitarian movements began to rise

across the world.

Pope Pius hoped this feast

could hold out a different vision to the world.

A vision of scepters that bring life.  

A vision of crowns that radiate hope.

A vision of power that brings justice and mercy.  

This feast is both celebration and warning.

We wait in joyful hope for the world to come,

Yes!

But in that waiting,

we cannot abandon this world

or the people around us

to an evil fate.  

We cannot turn our heads and close our eyes,

while we wait for eternity.  

We must hold out a different vision.

A vision of Christ,

who wears crown of thorns.

A vision of Christ,

who walked among lepers.

A vision of Christ,

who dined with sinners.

A vision of Christ,

whose Kingship liberates rather than enslaves.

Today,

when so many in our world

struggle to survive

when authoritarian movements

are on the rise,

This feast asks,

“How do WE speak of kings, and power and faith?

How do we use our time?

How do we follow Christ, our King?