From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!

God bless you and your generous heart.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Last Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are coming to the end of this liturgical season. On the last Sunday of each liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King.

This week is the 33rd week of the ordinary time. In a few days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, and next, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Christ the King and then we will be into the great Advent.

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast of Christ the King in 1925

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast of Christ the King in 1925 with his encyclical “Quas Primas” (“In the First”) to respond to growing secularism and atheism. He recognized that attempting to “thrust Jesus Christ and His holy law” out of public life would result in continuing discord among people and nations. The solemnity reminds us that while governments come and go, Christ reigns as King forever.

Why We Celebrate the Solemnity of Christ The King

Let us try to understand the reasons why the church has this feast. During the early twentieth century, in Mexico, Russia, and some parts of Europe, militantly secularistic regimes threatened not just the Catholic Church and its faithful but civilization itself. Pope Pius XI’s encyclical gave Catholics hope and—while governments around them crumbled—the assurance that Christ the King shall reign forever.

Jesus Christ “is very tough, and it is from Him that truth must be obediently received by all mankind.” (Quas Primas, 7)

Christ is the King Of OUR Lives

The Church calls us to acknowledge Christ’s kingship with our whole lives. He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and the doctrines of Christ.

Religious Freedom

Today, religious freedom for many people means they can believe whatever they want in private, but when they enter the public square or the marketplace, they may not speak about their faith.

However, the Church acknowledges the reign of Christ, both privately, and publicly. This solemnity encourages us to celebrate and live out our faith in public.

“Thus by sermons preached at meetings and in churches, by public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed by the solemn processions, men unite in paying homage to Christ, whom God has given them for their King.” (Quas Primas, 26)

We Need to Publically Live Our Christian Faith

For Christians, when our faith is repeatly marginalized in public life, we can fall into the habit of compartmentalizing our lives. We love Jesus in our private lives, but we shrink from acknowledging the kingship of Christ in our social life.

When we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord of the Church and the entire universe.

With lots of love and blessings.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan