Jesus is King everywhere (Sunday homily)

 Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe.

The title may seem grandiose, but it makes the point:

Jesus is king of everything, everyone, everywhere: no limits!

This feast was established in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

It was a time of “isms” – that is, causes demanding total allegiance, 

and seeking a total reordering of society:

Fascism, communism, socialism and Nazism among them.

Alas, we have new “isms” being added to the old ones.

Caring for the environment is a good and necessary thing, 

but for some it becomes a kind of religion, worshipping Nature

while human beings are treated as expendable.

We just had an election, 

and what stands out to me during election seasons 

is that some of us can go overboard in fixing our hope 

on a political figure or philosophy. 

And if you think I’m only talking about “those people” and their party,

I’m talking about yours, too.

Perhaps the greatest false god of our time 

is the worship of self – of our own will.

All the confusion today about sex and man and woman 

and marriage and identity? 

That’s us saying to God: MY will be done, not yours!

In the end, it’s all variations on the same theme:

People who will not have God as God; 

they want to fashion their own god.

This feast is when you and I as Christians must bear witness:

Without God, humanity loses himself. 

There is a second point to make on this feast, and it is this:

Bearing this witness means helping to reflect Christ and his Truth 

in our society and yes in our laws.

It is true that we live in a pluralistic society.

But that doesn’t mean you and I lose our voice, 

or that our consciences must be locked away!

It does mean, however, that you and I must seek to persuade.

Let me make a third point about what each of us can do, 

no matter what happens in the world around us, now or in the future. 

When the weather is calm, a fence can be thrown up hastily;

it doesn’t need much to stay standing. 

But when the winds start raging, 

that fence will be knocked flat, fast,

if it isn’t dug deep and well anchored.

That’s what you and I are facing today as Christians:

Headwinds that are becoming more ferocious daily.

So we’d better dig our foundations deep.

If you really pay attention to the messages on TV –

In advertising, news and so-called entertainment –

It’s a barrage of propaganda for all these false gods.

Jesus Christ isn’t going to be at the center 

unless you and I make a constant effort to keep him there. 

This is why Sunday Mass matters. 

It’s our weekly reminder of who we really are: citizens of heaven.

Each time we come into this church, we enter King Jesus’ presence!

Each Mass, we witness the renewal of our salvation!

When you and I take advantage of confession,

That is the most powerful tool for re-ordering our lives 

so that Christ is at the center, 

not work, not sports, not ego, not pleasure, 

not political or ideological false gods.

The tug-of-war is always there for everyone one of us.

One day you and I will see Jesus Christ on his throne.

It is a sad to realize that some will mourn on that day, 

or even revile him, as happened in the Gospel. 

For myself: I want to see him with joy. You want the same!

Till that day, let us help each other grow in that hope.

For today, let us proclaim what the Mexican martyrs did:

Viva Christo Rey! Long live Christ our King!