Everyone in the world is subject to Jesus Christ who is King of all creation. This means that all men are bound to the reign and rule of Jesus but are also under his loving care and protection.
Because of this, Catholics and other Christians should put God above all things, even when faced with challenges and pressures from secular society or political power.
Unlike earthly kings who have faults or might even be evil, Jesus Christ is the perfect king who loves all those who He reigns over.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to secularism, increasing hostility toward the Church, and attempts by several governments to remove God from public life.
All of the readings and teaching at Catholic Mass through the year point to the last Sunday of the liturgical year when the Church celebrates this feast day, also known as the Feast of Christ the King.
Christ is the only perfect king:
Jesus Christ is unlike any other king:
Jesus is the king of everything:
So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to Him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say 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
There is one theme in all of Jesus’ teachings:
Jesus is King of his Church on Earth:
Today, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, we are celebrating the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. We know from the Gospels that Jesus refused the title of king when it was meant in the political sense, by the standards of the “rulers of the Gentiles”. On the other hand, during his Passion, He claimed a unique kingship before Pilate, who explicitly asked Him “So you are a king?”, and Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king”; however just previously he had declared, “My kingship is not of this world”. Christ’s kingship is in fact a revelation and actuation of that of God the Father, Who governs all things with love and justice. The Father entrusted to the Son the mission of giving mankind eternal life by loving it to the point of supreme sacrifice and, at the same time, conferred upon Him the power of judging humanity, since He made himself Son of man, like us in all things
Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, 23 November 2008
The King will come again in glory to make things right:
Restoring the empire of the Lord:
Jesus accepted Peter’s profession of faith, which acknowledged Him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of Man. He unveiled the authentic content of his messianic kingship both in the transcendent identity of the Son of Man “Who came down from Heaven”, and in his redemptive mission as the suffering Servant: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Hence the true meaning of his kingship is revealed only when He is raised high on the Cross. Only after his Resurrection will Peter be able to proclaim Jesus’ messianic kingship to the People of God: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 440
Reminding us that Jesus Christ reigns over our lives:
A relatively new feast:
Everything builds up to the Feast of Christ the King:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
What every Christian should know:
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