From the beginning of civilization, kings or militant groups have ascended who have dreamed of enjoying a world-wide domain, a universal kingdom that would last forever. Some have come close to conquering much of the known world–Alexander, Genghis Khan, Augustus Caesar, Adolf Hitler and canniest among all of them is the present terror group called ISIS which I sure will eventually evaporate. And some kingdoms have lasted a very long time, such as Rome whose Eastern half lingered on for 2000 years.

But in spite of all their intrigues, the great rulers of the earth all proved temporal like anybody else. Their kingdoms, too, ultimately passed away, leaving abundant ruins for generations of travelers and archeologists to explore.

There is another thing that these great ones of the earth had in common–they enviously guarded their glory, sharing it with no one. Their ascent to the peak of power was made over the backs of others, and they did not hesitate to eliminate any and all rivals.

 The Solemnity of Christ the King celebrates the fact that there is one who is unusually different. He came to serve all, even His enemies. He truly was a Son of Man, with a vulnerable human nature. But He was also truly Son of God. Not in some mythological sense, like the Pharaohs, or the wishful thinking sense, like the Caesars, but really and truly, the Immortal, the Eternal, taking the form of a mortal man in a specific time in history.

 Rather than executing His opponents, He forgave them. Rather than dominating His subjects, He exalted them. He even called them not servants, but friends, and bestowing on them a share in His priesthood and kingship. Though He died, like other kings, it was for a different purpose than Augustus in his bed or Hitler in his bunker. He died willingly to save His people, and His death was not a result of a battle lost or a plan gone awry, but of a glorious victory planned before the world began.

 He rose in glory, which can’t be said for the rest of them. And at His heavenly coronation, when He ascended to His Father, He was given what all the rest lusted for–a universal dominion that will not pass away. But the world goes on unmindful, with corporate executives and statesmen still riding for position, elevating themselves at the expense of others.

 The true King, however, is biding His time. He will return and suddenly things will be seen as they truly are. His coming will sweep away ambition, vanity, and pretensions, and much of what now appears important will look very empty. No longer will oppression be allowed to stand; the innocent will finally be liberated from those who victimize them.

 This dominion will truly be universal–there will be nowhere left where He is not recognized as Who He is, though in some quarters, that acknowledgment will be made with consternation and gloom.

 This judgment, this kingdom, will have the last word. No election will overturn it in four years or four million years. There is no one stronger who can rest the dominion from his Almighty hand.

He’ll be here soon. How soon no one knows.

Fr. Henry Rebello SAC