Christ the King @ Holy Family Mission

HOMILY - FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
OCTOBER 30, 2016
12:00 NOON (SUN) EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS

Today is the Feast of Christ the King. This feast was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical letter Quas primas in response to growing nationalism and secularism as well as the question of the temporal power of the Holy Father.

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast with a desire that it affect the laity. I read from the encyclical:

"The faithful, moreover, by meditating upon these truths, will gain much strength and courage, enabling them to form their lives after the true Christian ideal. If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; if this power embraces all men, 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 revealed 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 serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, as instruments of justice unto God."

That is, Christ has been given all power in heaven and on earth. Period. No “separation of Church and state,” or worse the “I’m Catholic ‘but’ “ issue.

Christ must reign in our minds, our wills, our hearts, our bodies, and in our souls. Every aspect of our person and every aspect of our lives must be subject to the dominion and reign of Jesus Christ, Our King.

While the feast in the Ordinary Form has been given an eschatological bent, that is in effect put off until the end of time or the end of the world, our celebration of this feast in the Extraordinary Form gives this feast an imminent slant.

This is not presented as a “nice idea.” Rather, right here and right now … Jesus Christ must rule over everything and everyone. That was what Pope Pius XI was calling on the laity back ninety-one (91) years ago, and that message is the same today.

During the Christero War in Mexico which began the following year, the persecuted Christians would proclaim “Viva Christo Rey!” … that is, “Long Live Christ the King!”

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us surrender dominion of every aspect of our humanity to Christ, and to Christ alone.

May our every thought and action be subject to the power of Christ, and may our lives reflect the motto of the Christeros: Long Live Christ the King!

@fatherdavidjenuwine @davidjenuwine #fatherdavidjenuwine #davidjenuwine @revdavidjenuwine #revdavidjenuwine