The “Lord of the World” novel describes a possible future where faith in God and religion have been replaced by technology & secular humanism, Christians are persecuted and the Church is forced underground. And in the midst of this eclipse of God, an antichrist figure rises to power. He and his followers go on to dismantle our most important societal and religious structures in the name of peace.
Again, I highly recommend it. The novel is highly regarded by Pope Francis himself, and Pope Benedict before him. A contemporary Catholic writer named Joseph Peace has a wonderful reflection upon the book, he writes, “The world depicted in Lord of the World is one where creeping secularism and Godless humanism have triumphed over religion and traditional morality. It is a world where philosophical relativism has triumphed over objectivity; a world where, in the name of tolerance, religious doctrine is not tolerated. It is a world where euthanasia is practiced widely and religion hardly practiced at all. The lord of this nightmare world is a benign-looking politician intent on power in the name of “peace,” and intent on the destruction of religion in the name of “truth.” In such a world, only a small and defiant Church stands resolutely against the demonic “Lord of the World.”
Consider: that already in 1907, Catholic authors and leaders like Monsignor Benson were already detecting the godless philosophies that would go on to shape the 20th and now the 21st centuries.
Today’s feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI just about 20 years after Monsignor’s Benson’s prophetic book. At that time, National Socialism which would become Nazism in Germany was on the rise, as was Atheistic Communism in Russia—200 million people died because of those godless movements. Catholic laity and catholic clergy were being hunted down and murdered in Mexico, about 100 thousand people died there. And while we were enjoying the economic boom of the roaring 1920s here in the united states, materialism and consumerism were also on the rise—philosophies which even today contribute to the break down of society and the family.
Pope Pius XI, having a keen understanding of how these terrible forces could play out, instituted today’s feast to counteract “the deplorable consequences” produced when individuals and governments rebel against and reject the Gospel.
And so we celebrate this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, knowing that it is the message the world needs most today and always.
His is a universal Kingship. Meaning, His authority is not dependent on human recognition or belief. Whether a person worships Jesus or not, or even believes He exists, He is still King. His sovereignty transcends our acceptance, for He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. This means that every knee will eventually bow, and every tongue will confess His lordship.
Moreover, as the King of the Universe, Jesus is higher than all earthly powers. No empire, government, or worldly authority can compare to His authority. In an age where political ideologies and leaders often vie for our ultimate loyalty, we must remember that our true allegiance lies with Christ. He is the eternal ruler whose kingdom is not of this world but encompasses all that is seen and unseen.
Any worldview—be it secular or even religious—that denies Christ's kingship is fundamentally flawed. Without acknowledging Him as the cornerstone, Christless and Godless institutions will never bring about the peace that claim. History has shown us that societies distancing themselves from Christ's teachings succumb to moral relativism, injustice, tribalism, and oppression. Only in recognizing Jesus as King can we find the true path to peace and righteousness.
If Jesus is indeed the King of the Universe, then not only are nations and their rulers subject to Him, but so are our individual wills. We do not own ourselves; we are not the masters of our fate in isolation from God's will. Therefore, we cannot simply "do what we want" without regard for God’s commandments. Instead, we must submit our whole lives to His service and glory. And this submission is not a burden but a liberation, freeing us from the chains of selfish desires and leading us toward true fulfillment in Christ.
The fact that Jesus is King is good news! Unlike earthly kings who may rule with tyranny or self-interest, Jesus is the embodiment of perfect goodness, mercy, justice, and love. He is goodness itself, mercy itself, justice itself. Submitting to Christ means aligning ourselves with the ultimate good. So, we can never err in following Him, for He is the way, the truth, and the life.
So, what does this mean for us today?
It means that we are called to recognize and honor Christ's sovereignty in every aspect of our lives. In our families, workplaces, communities, and personal choices, Jesus must reign supreme. Let us not compartmentalize our faith by only following Christ for an hour on the weekends, but allow our fidelity to him to permeate every decision we make. By doing so, we become not simply faithful subjects, but ambassadors of His kingdom, shining His light into a world often shrouded in darkness.
We shine with the light of Christ our King particularly when we stand firm in the face of worldly pressures. In Monsignor Benson’s novel, the persecuted Church was small. But in its courageous defiance to the powers of the world she is a become of hope. We too must stand resolute against any force that seeks to dethrone Christ from His rightful place.
Finally, as we conclude this liturgical year and prepare to enter into Advent, today’s feast is a call to hope. The world may seem chaotic and broken, but we know how the story ends. Christ the King will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. Our allegiance to Him now is a foretaste of the eternal joy we will share when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
On this feast of Christ the King, we renew our commitment, our loyalty, our fidelity. We joyfully submit to His loving rule, trusting that in His kingship lies our hope and salvation. May we proclaim with our lives that Jesus Christ is King for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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