Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - Year B - 25th November 2018
"If to Christ Our Lord is given all power in heaven and earth, if all people, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; if this power embraces all people, it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from his empire.
He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to reveal truths and 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 serves as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls. Or to use the words of the Apostle Paul ‘as instruments of justice unto God".
This is what Pope Pius Xl said in 1925 in his letter when he instituted the Feast Of Christ The King.
In 1969 Blessed Pope Paul Vl changed the title of the feast to ‘Our Lord Jesus Christ King Of The Universe’. He also moved the feast to the new date of the final Sunday of the liturgical year, before the start of the new liturgical year of the First Sunday in Advent.
He said, ‘Through this choice of date the eschatological importance of this Sunday is made clearer’.
‘Eschaton’ is a Greek word meaning the last things, i.e. death, judgment and what happens after death.
I think Blessed Pope Paul Vl comes at the end of the liturgical year where we accompany Jesus through his infancy, ministry, passion, death and resurrection.
Like Jesus we will die and what then?
We believe that we will rise again to meet Jesus in heaven.
Its about time for me to look at the words of Pope Pius Xl—is Jesus my best friend, do I try to live like Jesus, do I honour God and serve people as Jesus did, am I preparing for my own death.
We pray in the 3rd Eucharistic prayer after the words of consecration of the bread and wine, ‘and as we look forward to his second coming’.
Am I looking forward to his second coming?
Fr Noel Travers cm