Today's mass celebration has quite the title. Our pastor informed us today that this feast is one of the newer ones established by the Catholic Church, having been created in 1925 by Pope Pius XI (Pope Paul VI would later revise the feast in 1969 to its present title and place on the calendar). It was formed in particular as a response to the fanatical nationalism that had continued despite the conclusion of World War I and as a response to the growing power of communism which promoted atheism as well as allegiance to the state above all things.
The feast brings the focus of the Church at the end of its liturgical calendar to the power of Christ. Unlike so many world leaders, Christ's power is not about compulsion or dominance, but rather about love and acceptance. Our pastor reminded us today to not put our faith in a world leader, especially one who demands obedience and unquestioning loyalty. He warned against ignoring the evils that a leader does just because that leader does good things as well.
This is difficult in a world where people often feel like their only choices are between two evils. In such cases, we need to make the best choice that we can; however, doing so does not then justify our turning a blind eye to faults and misdeeds of the lesser evil that we chose. We are to look to Christ as our guide and to do our best to follow the path He has given us.
The feast brings the focus of the Church at the end of its liturgical calendar to the power of Christ. Unlike so many world leaders, Christ's power is not about compulsion or dominance, but rather about love and acceptance. Our pastor reminded us today to not put our faith in a world leader, especially one who demands obedience and unquestioning loyalty. He warned against ignoring the evils that a leader does just because that leader does good things as well.
This is difficult in a world where people often feel like their only choices are between two evils. In such cases, we need to make the best choice that we can; however, doing so does not then justify our turning a blind eye to faults and misdeeds of the lesser evil that we chose. We are to look to Christ as our guide and to do our best to follow the path He has given us.
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