CHRIST THE KING

Pope Pius XI

The SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, started as “The Feast of Christ the King” in 1925.  It was instituted by Pope Pius XI and was celebrated on the last Sunday of October (logically celebrated on the Sunday before the Church celebrated All Saints’ Day on November 1st).  

And the reason of Pope Pius XI for instituting the Feast?  The world was high with NATIONALISM and SECULARISM.  Nations were high with their race and nationality.  They had leaders who lifted their spirits, opened their minds with strong nationalist influence, and burned their hearts even with hatred for others.  It was love for one’s country despite obvious problems of morality.  It was nationalism defaced by sin.  Add to that, the growing Secularism that made people lose their belief, trust and sense of God… a growing distortion of self-confidence, fading sense of religion, and an intoxicating spell of materialism.   Personally, I am sure Nationalism and Secularism were factors that drove the world to its 2nd World War.  

Rise of Nationalism in Russia

CHRIST THE KING was meant to shift the focus of the ordinary Catholic from the Nationalist and Secularist trend of those days… that JESUS is far superior than any leader, that JESUS is far better than any ideology, that JESUS has authority over the world and each one of us.  This is CHRIST THE KING.  And when we celebrate this Solemnity every last Sunday in Ordinary Time (or the Sunday before Advent begins), we are once again asked to make a CHOICE.  

I remember when the President of the Philippines came to Japan.  There was a date set aside to meet the Filipinos.  Months before this event, the Embassy sent invitations to the different Filipino communities.  (Filipinos like to form groups: geographical groups, language groups, civic groups, church groups… add to that the feuds, gossips and competition happening within and among the groups!  But I digress.)   For security reasons, those who wanted to meet the President had to register beforehand.  Since the date was set, some of them also had to file a leave from work that day.  


The day came.  They were early at the venue.  They were dressed in Filipino attire, business suits, pantsuits… They were asked to put off their cellphones or put in manner mode.  The President arrived.  Loud cheers.  Attentive eyes and ears on the usual self-promoting-pat-my-own-back achievement speech.  The event ended with lots of them taking selfies and pictures… with, of course, the President at the background on top of the stage having his own picture taken with a selected few.  

I feel bad about it.  Even today. 

Here was a majority-Catholic crowd setting a leave from work just to meet the President, when they cannot even consistently go to church on Sundays (or Saturday evenings) because of work.  

They were early at the venue, yet, they think it is normal to be late for the Holy Mass. 

They were dressed so well in their suits and best attire, yet, they don’t mind going to Mass with their casual or sexy clothes. 

Their cellphones were quiet when the President was speaking, yet, in the Holy Mass, a cellphone rings.  Some even stand up, get out of the church, answer the call or send a text back. 

They were attentive to the President’s words, yet, they don’t mind being noisy inside the House of God. 

They posed well for pictures with the President at the background, yet, they make wacky or sexy, profile, flatter-the-curves poses in front of the Blessed Sacrament in church. 

Don’t get me wrong.  I do not have any intention to put down anyone.  (I have not mentioned any particular group here.)  I just want to make a point:

The majority was not even able to approach the President and say, “Uy, kumusta na! Ba’t hindi ka sumasagot sa mga tawag ko?!”   But we can actually say the same thing to Jesus.

The President didn’t even tell any ordinary Filipino that day, “Oh, kumusta ka na?  Ang nanay mo, kumusta na?  Mukhang pagod ka ha,” as if that Filipino was known personally by the President.  But Jesus can actually tell that to anyone in his / her heart. 

After the event, the Filipinos who were excited to attend, were joyful to participate and ecstatic at the end left the venue still remaining the usual ANONYMOUS Filipino to the President.  That will never happen with Jesus.  He is God.  He knows us by name.  We are carved in the palm of His Hand.  

It really makes us think… WHO really is important for us?  A leader who gets changed every six years?… or JESUS?

Giant Statue of CHRIST THE KING (Swiebodzin, Poland)

When one is faced with a choice between a human President (whose thoughts, words and actions are willing to go against what God has designed in nature) and Christ the King (the ever loving, gentle, forgiving and just King of kings), one does obviously know the answer.

And yet, we still fail.