Bulletin column from November 22, 2020

Dear Friends at Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish and Saint Frances Cabrini Parish:
Praised be Jesus Christ! We are blessed this weekend to celebrate the Solemn Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, or more commonly called Christ the King. With it we close out our Sunday cycle of readings from Matthew’s Gospel, and we observe the final Sunday of this liturgical year, before the new year turns with Advent’s arrival one week from now.

What a year it has been. It is true that America, and the human race, have lived through far, far worse years than 2020. Nonetheless, for so many of us who have been so insulated from major societal upheaval or hardship for a long stretch of time, all that we have dealt with this year has been a lot to take. Where do we turn for consolation? This Sunday’s Solemn Feast is meant to offer us an important facet of the answer to this question.

The Gospel is a haunting scene on one level. Christ is described to us as powerful, and as one who judges hearts and actions with finality. He reigns as King supreme who assesses the eternal, individual fate of each person based on how well he or she practiced true charity during this earthly life. Those who did live with sincere concern for the well-being of others are able to enter into the fullness of heaven to be with Christ face to face, because they were well-practiced at recognizing his face in the needy while living in this life. Conversely, those who failed to recognize him in the faces of those in need while on earth do not properly belong with him face to face for eternity, and so they are consigned to the fires of Hell.

While there is much in this Gospel scene to engender uncomfortable soul-searching on our parts, there is much that is consoling as well. In a world where it is more and more difficult to sort out who is genuine, who is in control, and who to trust, we can take heart that Our King sees through all that is deceptive. In a world where we feel increasingly powerless in the face of so many forces of change that toss us around, we can know for certain that Our King has all of it firmly in his grasp. There is no social or cultural personality, movement, or force that can withstand the truth and judgement of Christ the King. While earthly rulers may come and go, thinking themselves to be so mighty as they do so, the fact is that God permits and allows all of them to exist, and he can disrupt them at-will if salvation requires it. If we find ourselves as believers thwarted in our attempts to practice the faith, or if we suffer and are persecuted for standing up for the Gospel, or if we lose our lives over it, we can be confident that none of that escapes the attention of Our King who promises justice in the world to come. The chaos of this life stops at the feet of the one who is enthroned in majesty, and he knows who are his own. They will be rescued, provided they seek him with sincere hearts.

It's been a rough year. But, Christ is still King of the Universe, no matter how challenging things may seem. This Gospel scene leaves absolutely no room for doubt about this fact. In him do we trust. In him always and in him alone do we trust.