There is nothing that lights up the embers of my soul quite like our Lord’s title, Christ the King. The crisp, cutting alliteration brings my imagination to the days of old when men would suit up in mesh metal mail and unsheathe their silver swords to battle for love of their monarch. When throngs of people, young and old, poor and rich, would ripple, bowing as their sovereign passed by in raiment of purple and gold. When royal patronage was given to musicians to compose courtly ensembles, stirring a venerable patriotism in all who hear. I love all the hymns associated with His kingship. “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King,” “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven,” and, my personal favorite, “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” are all buzzing through my head as I write. Zeal. Ardor. Fire. Mm. Christ, my King.
Well, it is not quite that time yet, but it is close enough that you would have already needed to start your novena, and it’s close enough that Holy Mother Church has already been preparing us in our daily readings. She continues to do so today.
Times of Unsurpassed Distress
Some people think the ‘end of times’ readings are scary and spooky. I do not. Maybe it is pure naivety, maybe it’s faith. Probably a little bit of both. But, instead of finding fear, I find great hope, even excitement, in these readings.
Okay, but first we must acknowledge: “It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress.” (Daniel 12:1). The great flood of Noah? Think worse. The burning of Sodom and Gomorrah? Worse. The Black Death that killed 50% of Europe in the mid-1300s? Still worse. What about things we are a little more familiar with? What about the mass murder of six million of our own kind in Nazi Germany? Nope. Even what we all just went through and are still going through–COVID-19 shutdowns, political divide, murdering over half a million babies in the US alone every year, sex trafficking, and all the other things that are terrible that you already hear too much about? Nope, nope, nope! And if imagining the earth completely in ruins is not enough, our Lord adds, “And the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” (Mark 13:25). Welp. If even heavens duking it out, sounds like death will not be much of an escape… Like Daniel said: Unsurpassed distress.
Our King Comes for Us
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the ‘end of times’ sounds any kind of fun. But, BUT… Then what happens? “And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26). The King. Our King comes for us. At long last, “His enemies are made his footstool.” (Hebrews 10:13). He will snatch us from the mortal mudslide, make us immune to the deadly pandemic, pluck us from the grips of deep despair, and, after consoling us tenderly in His arms, make us “shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament” (Daniel 12:3). And then, AND THEN, even that last, greatest enemy, Death itself, dies. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” (Daniel 12:2). Spouses reunited, children and parents reunited, brother and sister, the greatest apostles and the little Therese’s, all awake, all healed of every physical, psychological, spiritual malady, all together, forever.
And He, Truth Himself, promises this to us. From the intimacy, tenderness, and love of His Sacred Heart, He looks us straight in the eyes and says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31).
Gird your loins in truth, dress in your breastplate of righteousness, take up your shield of faith. “Put on the full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:13). Battle cry: Jesus Christ, my King, Your Kingdom Come!!!!
Wow Maggie! I’m so glad that you decided to be “out” with your faith rather than closeted! If only all the closeted Catholics could become so courageous! The world is being lit as we speak! The fire of God’s love will burn in all hearts! Blessed be God!