Christ Is King, So Be Brave! - Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

In every age, there are moments whereupon men and women are called to be brave. We are living in one of those moments.

In our world where there is the lived nihilism of barbarians and the grey of secularism, bravery is once more in demand. At Christmas, we meet Jesus, the light of the world and the king of all of the universe, who was born in the dark of night and in a world plagued by the savagery of sin. Yet, even in His littleness, this Jesus would announce that the “kingdom of God is at hand!” He would drive out demons, He would conquer sin and death, and He would establish a peace, the fullness of which will be enjoyed by His Saints when He comes again at the end of time, a day on which He will render justice upon all the world. The Kingdom of God is at hand!

We must remember these words, especially as we consider the events of our present day. This past week, one of my friends emailed me and said, “Father, I feel so little [in these days]… I feel so small… It crushes me [to see what is going on].”

These words come from a good soul, a soul that longs that love should conquer the injustices of the world. Yet the soul thinks the task too great, the powers of the world too strong for us little souls. This is precisely where fortitude, that bravery of the Spirit, is so needed; for we have so great a King—a King who entered into our littleness, literally becoming a little child. Our King, Jesus Christ, has lead and continues to lead the way in the battle between good and evil. And by His Resurrection He shows that evil is definitely conquered, that Love does prevail.

Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!

So “do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Lk 12:32). If our enemy should destroy, then build! If our enemy should hate, then love! If our enemy should be cowardly by bringing in a Nothingness that unleashes the gates of hell, then be brave, knowing that the gates of hell shall never prevail!

Commit yourself. Commit yourself to long moments of prayer every day; the enemy would prefer you to be busy. Commit yourself to adoring the Lord often; the enemy would prefer you follow Instagram. Commit yourself to kissing your spouse like you mean it; your enemy would prefer your love to become lukewarm. If you are young, commit yourself to a vocation that will demand the utmost of your bravery and, when you have nothing left, to trust all the more in the power of Jesus, our God and King.

If our enemy should be so committed to evil, should we not be all the more committed to holiness? And so, for all of us, let us be united in the bravery that prayer requires of us; for yes, in every age, there are moments whereupon men and women are called to be brave. This is that moment. The Kingdom of God is at hand!

And one more: