Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Homily for Christ the King - November 25, 2018


Homily for November 25, 2018
Feast of Christ the King
Royal Standards

            St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his “Spiritual Exercises,” invites people in their prayer to meditate on what he calls the “Two Standards”. Picture this scene – you are standing in a field in between two large groups of people. Each group is huddled around a flag. On your left stands a group huddled around a flag called “The World” and on your right is a group gathered around one that is labeled “Jesus Christ”.
            St. Ignatius then asks us to choose. We can’t stay in the middle – we have to pick one side or the other. So we start to examine the sides. On the world’s side, they have cookies…and nice clothes…and everyone seems good-looking and successful. On Christ’s side, they are joyful, but their clothes aren’t that nice, and they don’t seem like the “cream of the crop”.
            Then you see this group’s leader – Jesus Christ. But He looks nothing like a king. He stands before Pilate, beaten, scourged, falsely accused, hated by all. Would you join such a king? Would you belong to such a kingdom as that ragtag group of misfits?
            Our readings today reveal two contrasting views of Christ’s Kingship. In the Gospel, we see Jesus as we saw Him on earth – merely a human being, and a weak and powerless one, at that. He has to stand, powerless and innocent, before Pontius Pilate, a corrupt and bloodthirsty earthly king. But in the first reading, we see Jesus crowned with honor, triumphant over His enemies, reigning with complete power and authority. He answers to no one; His victory is complete.
            We must follow Christ in His first humble Kingship if we wish to reign with Him in His glorious kingship. In many ways, these two aspects of Christ’s Kingship (humility and glory, the Cross and the Resurrection) mirror the life of every Christian. Because of grace, we are truly glorious! We will someday reign with Him and radiate holiness that we never knew possible. In the Old Testament, Moses’ face actually shone because of his closeness to God; but in eternity, our entire selves will be radiant with glory. But that glory is hidden now, and Christians have to live a life of humility, patience, embracing the Cross and following after the Lord Jesus.
            This means we cannot submit to following the crowd who is gathered around the flag of “The World”. The World wants the glory here-and-now. The World professes pride, not humility; pleasures, not sacrifice; power, not service; hatred and division, not love. You have all promised at your baptism to reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises – these are the empty promises that they are talking about. Glory, pleasure, pride, victory here on earth. Lots of fun for seventy or eighty years. But we follow a religion that makes no such promises for this world – rather, our hope is in the Kingdom to come.
            This feast of Christ the King was established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, and he established it during a time of great turmoil. Italy had just fallen into the fascist government of Mussolini who in 1925 officially became Italy’s dictator, and the Communists had just come to power in Russia. World War I had just ended as well. These tumultuous times displayed to the world the type of authority that the worldly flag endorses: harsh and atheistic authority, concerned only with power and hostile to anyone who disagrees.
            In contrast, Pope Pius XI wanted to remind the world that political authority is not the ultimate authority in the world. Instead, look to Jesus Christ as the ultimate King: a humble, loving, compassionate King, Who lays down His life for His sheep. His Kingdom is not of this world – and neither is ours!

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