The last Sunday of the liturgical year, 23 November, is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It shows us that we are on the way to meet Jesus in His kingdom, for He is the one who will come in His glory at the end of the age.
This solemnity of the liturgical year emphasizes Christ’s true royal authority. The entire liturgical year is a symbol of our life’s journey: it has a beginning and an end, a meeting with the Lord Jesus, King and Lord, in the Kingdom of Heaven, when we enter there through the narrow gate of “Sister Death” (Saint Francis of Assisi). At the beginning of the liturgical year (on the First Sunday of Advent) we are shown the goal toward which we move. The liturgy of this solemnity teaches us to recognize the Lord in our daily life and prepares us for His final coming.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, formerly called the feast “Christ the King”, was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as a counterbalance to a secular way of life that leaves God out of human thought and life and arranges human life as if God did not exist. The purpose of this feast is to proclaim, in a striking and effective way, Christ’s kingship over individuals, families, society, governments and nations. It was originally celebrated on the last Sunday of October, but in the revised liturgical calendar promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969 it was moved to the last Sunday of Ordinary Time (immediately before the Advent season), because the theme of Christ’s reign was more fitting at the end of the liturgical year.
The kingship of Jesus is above all the kingship of love and forgiveness. While on the cross, in indescribable torments and mocked by the leaders of the people, Jesus extends words of forgiveness and consolation to those near him. The repentant thief on the cross also acknowledges Jesus’ unique kingship: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42). And Jesus gives him this promise: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43). The same promise has been given to us. But the thought that should bring us still greater joy and consolation is that Christ is our King both by acquired and by natural right, because he is our Redeemer (Paavst Pius XI, Quas Primas, 13). He remains beside us always as merciful and forgiving and desires to bring everyone into his kingdom — us who are witnesses to the Truth.
Jesus also answered while standing before Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would have fought so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from here” (Jn 18:37). He took responsibility for his life and revealed his mission to bring about the Father’s kingdom and to witness to the Truth. This is Jesus who came into the world to declare by his life that his kingdom is different from the kingdoms of the world; that God does not rule to increase his power and crush others; that he does not rule by the force of arms. His kingdom is a kingdom of love and redemption; the kingdom of those who give their lives for the salvation of others (Pope Francis’ homily on the Solemnity of Christ the King, 2021). Thus, Jesus Christ is himself the Truth and all humanity must obediently receive the Truth from him (Quas primas, 7) until He comes in his glory: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Mt 25:31). Having lived his earthly life in humility and poverty, Jesus appears to us in his divine splendour, surrounded by angelic hosts. And all humanity is called before Him.
He is the Lord, the sun that rises from on high, who remains when all else passes away, our sure and eternal hope. This proclamation of hope illuminates our night. It tells us that God is indeed coming, that He is present and at work, drawing our history toward Himself, toward the fullness of goodness. He comes “in the clouds” to console us. As if saying: “I will not leave you alone when storms gather over your life. I am always with you. I come to bring back the bright sky” (Angelus, 26.11.2017).
On the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe we celebrate him through whom the whole world was created — and through whom it is being recreated — and by whom it will be fully restored and returned to the Father at the end of all time. This finale marks the beginning of the eternal new Heaven and new earth, when He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4). Therefore we rejoice greatly on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and reflect that we have salvation through Jesus Christ into His kingdom of love and await His coming again in glory, peace and justice.