Pastor’s column
Solemnity of Christ the King
November 21, 2010
Last year we looked at the martyrdom of Blessed Miguel Pro of Mexico and how his death and that of others in the Christero movement there in the 1920s led to the establishment of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Miguel Pro was executed as he extended his arms in the form of a cross while praying “Long live Christ the King!”
At the beginning of this month, the church witnessed the latest martyrdoms for the faith, this time in Iraq. For some reason, this story has not received much press coverage but the bishop of Iraq has pleaded for prayers from Catholics around the world and to make this story known.
Iraqi Catholics (Syrian Catholic rite) were attending Sunday Mass in the cathedral of Baghdad, called Our Lady of Salvation, when terrorists entered the church. First they barred all the doors so that no one could leave. Then they took aim at the priests, who immediately offered their lives so that others could be spared. One priest was celebrating the Mass when he was killed; one was shot while in the confessional; one priest died while trying to protect children with his own body. In all, 53 worshippers died in this, the worst single act of violence against Christians since the war began. The attackers were quoted as saying they were cleaning out a “nest of polytheism” because of our belief in the Trinity. Survivors have continued to be attacked in their homes.
May God spare our country from this kind of violence, but when we do have to suffer deeply, we have a choice to make. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus’ throne on earth is the cross. As Jesus is dying, he has company: two thieves who are suffering the same cruel death. One thief reviles Jesus as he dies; the other admits his own guilt, notes the innocence of Jesus, and simply asks that Jesus remember him when he comes into his kingdom. For that simple act of contrition and faith, this thief becomes the first person to be saved by the cross.
Christ’s kingdom, Our Lord says very clearly, is not in this world. If he truly reigned here, horrible tragedies like the suffering at Our Lady of Salvation Cathedral would not happen. These martyrdoms are the result of the sins of human beings, not the will of God. Yet there is a place where Christ does wish to reign in this world, and only you have the key: in your own heart, for Jesus says very clearly that the Kingdom of God is within you.
Depending on my response to trials and situations in life, I will take the role of either one thief or the other. Life consists in its essence as a series of choices: will I allow Christ to reign as king of my heart at this moment, in this choice? In our daily lives, then, with struggles both small and large, we are preparing ourselves for the final choice we will make, for or against Jesus as Christ the King, on the last day of our lives.
Father Gary
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