Aren’t the “royal” feasts of Christ the King and the Queenship of Mary a little… outdated?

The Fifth Glorious Mystery has been part of the Church’s Tradition since the earliest times, although Pope Pius XII added it to the Church’s liturgical calendar as a memorial (celebrated now on Aug. 22) only in 1954. That should not surprise us: Jesus was called a “king” already in his day, but the Solemnity of Christ the King became part of the Church calendar only in 1925.

But why these royal feasts? Fewer and fewer people — including fewer Catholics — today live in kingdoms. Aren’t these feasts a bit … well, outdated?

No.

First, these feasts remind us that we are not just citizens of the earthly city. Human government is real and even deserves our respect: “Let everyone be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God …” (Romans 13:1). While Jesus speaks of “things of God” and “things of Caesar,” that doesn’t mean that even Caesar got his “things” except from God. And even when Pilate tries to throw his authority around (“Do you not know that I have the power to release you and I have the power to crucify you?” —John 19:10), Jesus sets him straight: “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above” (v. 11).

So, yes, earthly power is real but it is limited. It answers to a higher authority. As do we.

Second, that higher authority is not founded “on the will of the governed.” It is founded on God, and God is not elected by man. It is established by God on truth and goodness because God is Truth (John 14:6) and the Supreme Good, neither of which is defined by man or constituted by his “choice.” Those who enter the Kingdom of Heaven do so because their will is good, but even those in hell are not free to overthrow God’s kingdom and set up an alternate regime. They would like to — “better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven,” wrote Milton — but even Satan’s failed state exists because God, in his Truth, cannot let evil masquerade as “good.”

The Resurrection made clear that God, not the devil nor sinful man, will have the last word in history. The Resurrection made clear that good, not evil, will triumph. So, the Kingdom of Heaven bears witness to that ultimate truth about the reality of human history, of the universe, and of all being. 

We human beings are invited to that Kingdom, and our response is a matter of our free will. But whether we choose to be for or against God doesn’t change the fact that God is God, we are not, and we are not going to redefine truth and goodness to suit our preferences.

Third, Mary shows us what it means to be a subject of that Kingdom. Her response to the Annunciation — to God’s plan for her life — was not, “Let me get back to you on that.” It was a recognition, in loving trust, of who God is and who she is, a recognition that culminated in the simple answer, “Fiat!” “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

John Grondelski, August 24, 2024

Adapted from www.ncregister.com