Every year, on this feast, I find myself bumping up against the cultural and religious concepts of what it means to be a king. I think this is inevitable when we consider how the life and person of Jesus Christ can be contrasted with that of King Herod the Great and the Roman emperors of the period especially Nero and Caligula. When Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925, which was three years after the seizure of power in Italy by the dictator Mussolini, the Catholic Church was besieged by many challenges in the Soviet Union, Mexico and throughout Europe on account of political extremism and dictatorships. The Pope asked the faithful to make a reality of Christ's reign in every aspect of their lives. It is not enough to go to Mass on Sundays and then carry on as if Christ did not exist. A conscious effort to invite Christ to rule every aspect of our hearts and lives is necessary if we are to resist the present day challenges to Christian values and worship. This means listening to Pope Francis, as well as the New Zealand Conference of Bishops, and seeking to implement prayer, charity and good works as an integral part of our daily lives. We cannot plead ignorance. It is not as if having heard today's gospel readings that we are unaware of what we need to do to serve Christ: "And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.' " (Mtt 25: 40)
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