When Pius XI instituted the "Solemn Feast of Christ the King", he called for men to look for the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ. He wrote
Let nations be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ. It will call to their minds the thought of the last judgment, wherein Christ, who has been cast out of public life, despised, neglected and ignored, will most severely avenge these insults; for his kingly dignity demands that the State should take account of the commandments of God and of Christian principles, both in making laws and in administering justice, and also in providing for the young a sound moral education. (Quas primas, 32)
The feast therefore is a reminder that Christ the King identifies himself with those who are neglected by the State, emarginated from participating fully in the life of society and are deprived of those things required by their human dignity
1. In the judgment narrative of Matthew 25:31-46, we find the King identifying with "the least". St. Augustine saw here the identification of Christ with those he loves. Love makes the lover become one with the beloved and become the beloved himself. From this insight, we understand why a St. Francis or a Mother Teresa of Calcutta would go to the extent of kissing a leper because by such an act, they kiss Christ. Christ is seen in society's deprived and underprivileged.
Reflect: Christ is seen in the "little ones" -- the poor, the emarginated, the deprived, those whose dignity as human beings are stepped upon. Can you identify "the little ones" in your neighborhood? in your parish? Make a list of the people (those you know and meet each day) who can be called "little ones". What can you do for them that will alleviate their misery?
2. In the Catholilc tradition, the acts of kindness that the King uses as a criterion for judgment have been made into a program for charitable works. In this context, we speak of the corporal works of mercy and their equivalent spiritual works (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm). Here they are:
- Corporal/Physical
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To harbour the harbourless;
- To visit the sick;
- To ransom the captive;
- To bury the dead.
- Spiritual Works
- The spiritual works of mercy are:
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish sinners;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the afflicted;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
Reflect. Which of the above have you been doing consistently. Which of the above do you intend to perform in the coming days? How?
3. Reflect on the following statements on the love that should move us to solidarity with the poor and the deprived:
From the Catechism
"Solidarity is an eminently Christian virtue. It practices the sharing of spiritual goods even more than material ones." (#1948)
"Socio-economic problems can be resolved only with the help of all the forms of solidarity; solidarity of the poor among themselves, between rich and poor, of workers among themselves, between employers and employees in a business, solidarity among nations and peoples. International solidarity is a requirement of the moral order; world peace depends in part upon this." (#1941)
"The equal dignity of human persons requires the effort to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities. It gives urgency to the elimination of sinful inequalities." (#1947)
From Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II: The Church in the World)
"The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in an any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ." (#1)
"The solidarity, which binds all people together as members of a common family, makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon the hunger, misery and poverty of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even elementary human rights. The nations of the world are becoming more and more dependent on one another and it will not be possible to preserve a lasting peace so long as glaring economic and social imbalances persist." (#157)
