We celebrate today the solemnity of Christ the King and the end of the liturgical year, a beautiful day to reflect on the fact that God wouldn’t send his Son if we were a lost cause. He wouldn’t make Him a King if that King were to have no subjects. He wouldn’t allow him to die on the cross if He didn’t realize that some of us would call out to him Jesus, remember us, when you come into your kingdom[1]. Modern prophets of doom who see negative in every aspect of life have given up on society, but Jesus has not given up on us. Indeed He refuses to give up, He is the King who loves his subjects, and He loves them to death[2].
That’s the story and its teaching. Now I would like to talk about goals and dreams.
The only goal that matters, the only dream that matters is the dream of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and our participation in this Kingdom. This dream includes the purpose for our lives, the formation of a community of God’s love that makes life meaningful. The community of love includes reverence and respect for the presence of the Lord in the Holy Mass and spiritually in our families, in each individual in the family, and in each individual in the world.
All other goals and dreams are transitory and illusory. All other goals, no matter how important they may seem at the time, will pass away. For example, political seasons come and go, thanks be to God.
Some people’s dreams are caught up in business. Some people devote just their careers to forming a successful enterprise. Some people’s dreams are wrapped up in the good days that lay ahead in retirement.
Today, the last Sunday of the Church year we have a real challenge in front of us: What are the dreams that really matter? What are the values and principles that we are willing to fight for? What hopes are we willing to believe in enough to sacrifice ourselves for?
You know, our baptism into the life of Christ was and continues to be a bold statement to the world: Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, we dream His dreams, we share His hopes. We believe that nothing, not even death, can steal the dream of his Kingdom from us.
He has not given up His hope for us, so we cannot give up our participation in His dream.
The Solemnity of Christ the King is not just the conclusion of the church year it is a summary of our lives as Christians: His dreams are our dreams. His hope is our hope. His present is our future.
The Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe, invites us to repeat with faith the prayer of the Our Father, which Jesus himself taught us: "Thy kingdom come".
Thy kingdom come, O Lord! — A kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace[3]. Amen![4] ■
[1] Cfr Lk 23:42.
[2] Sunday 21st November, 2010, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King [Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary]. Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord—Ps 121(122):1-5. Colossians 1:12-20. Luke 23:35-43.
[3] Preface.
[4] EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION FOR THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING, HOMILY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II, Sunday, 23 November 1997.
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