Christ, the King
In six years, in 2025, we will come upon the seventeenth centenary of the convening of the Council of Nicea. It will also mark one hundred years since Pope Pius XI wrote his encyclical calling for recognition of Christ as our King.
Today is the feast day he created, Christ, the King.
Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. 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 18:33-37
In today's Gospel reading from John, Jesus doesn't admit that he sees himself as king, but he does say he belongs to a greater kingdom than the one built by Rome, and that, in itself, is enough to chew on.
Pope Pius XI saw a need and latched onto these words and others to fill it. The world was slipping away from Christ, and he believed that was the cause of unrest among the nations.
It has long been a common custom to give to Christ the metaphorical title of "King," because of the high degree of perfection whereby he excels all creatures. So he is said to reign "in the hearts of men," both by reason of the keenness of his intellect and the extent of his knowledge, and also because he is very truth, and it is from him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind. He reigns, too, in the wills of men, for in him the human will was perfectly and entirely obedient to the Holy Will of God, and further by his grace and inspiration he so subjects our free-will as to incite us to the most noble endeavors. He is King of hearts, too, by reason of his "charity which exceedeth all knowledge." And his mercy and kindness which draw all men to him, for never has it been known, nor will it ever be, that man be loved so much and so universally as Jesus Christ. But if we ponder this matter more deeply, we cannot but see that the title and the power of King belongs to Christ as man in the strict and proper sense too. For it is only as man that he may be said to have received from the Father "power and glory and a kingdom," since the Word of God, as consubstantial with the Father, has all things in common with him, and therefore has necessarily supreme and absolute dominion over all things created. - Quas Primas
I guess it makes sense for us to see Christ as a king, given his dominion over us, but isn't it understood that if Jesus is one with God we already see Him as divine, which is much greater than a king?
Kings are not what they used to be. Even back in 1925 when the Pope write the Quas Primas, kings were on the way out, relegated to ceremonial status in many nations where they continued to reign.
So, if the thought was to bring people back to the church by hailing Christ as a King above all, what do we do now, that so many of the followers have stopped following again?
Is the world more peaceful and faithful today than it was in 1925?
I personally believe Jesus would echo the words of the Father and state that we don't need a king, for we have God. And we may just be ready to listen to that message, since so many fail to bow down to anyone.
If kings have lost their glory, perhaps today should be the feast of Christ, the Son.
More to come...