In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the solemnity of Christ the King. As He looked out in to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he felt that the world was mounting opposition to Christian values and that it was insulting the name of the Redeemer and the right of the Church to teach the way of Christ was being out right denied and rejected.
He hoped that by honoring Christ as King society would be returned to the loving Savior. By bringing to mind the celebration of the Kingship of Christ he hoped that Christ would begin to reign in the mind and wills and hearts of the faithful. They would allow Christ to renew how they think and what they think about; they would allow Christ to direct their will to build the society such that it would become a fountain of mirth enough to set the kingdom laughing with joy; they would begin to emulate the kingly love of Christ who laid down his life for all.
Thus, Christ reigning in us then the kingdom is built up within us then all we have to do is let out. Enthrone christ with us and the kingdom comes through us.
Only by doing this, Pope Pius XI mentioned, would we receive the blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, and peace and harmony.
Only then would we be reawaken to our truest identity, the King's good servant.
Christ invites us in the gospel today to understand what the king's good servant must be about. we must attend to the least of society.
Why?
As we ponder the way of the cross it is important to note from the beginning to end Jesus becomes the least.
He is hungry and thirsty and they give him vinegar to drink, a sponge filled with gaul. He is stripped of his clothing and is left naked and exposed.
He is mocked and spit upon as a stranger. Even his closet friends abandon him and pretend him to be a stranger, unknown. As Peter professes, " I tell you I do not know the man." St. Paul reminds us, if they would have known who he was they would not have crucified him.
He was ill for his body was racked with pain, bruised and battered as he sought to destroy the sickness of sin. He was a prisoner. Arrested in the garden, bound hand and foot and confined through the night, only to be scourged like a common criminal and crucified like the worst of criminals.
The way of the cross is the path of enthronement; this is how Jesus becomes the universal king. He identifies with the least so that he might rule all.
We are asked to attend to the least so that we might walk in the footsteps of the king. Here we make our oath of allegiance. Here we become true stewards of the kingdom, and the King's good servant. In the face of the least we fulfill our oath in fealty and love, valor and honor. We become who we were made to be from the foundation of the world, the king's good servant making known the King who lives and reigns.
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