Christ the King
As we reach the end of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to conclude it with the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. Our gaze is drawn to Jesus on the Cross, loving to the very end. The King of our life and of the universe dies on the Cross, and by contemplating Him, we learn to love and allow ourselves to be loved. He also reminds us that in Him all created things—visible and invisible, in heaven and on earth—find their foundation. Everything that unfolds under His reign has the possibility of discovering paths toward peace and reconciliation.
Source of peace and reconciliation
The criminal crucified beside Jesus unexpectedly received a great opportunity: to recognize Him as King and to express his deepest desire: “Lord, when you come into your Kingdom, remember me.” Daring to approach Jesus, expressing the need to be with Him and allowing His gaze upon us, is at the same time opening ourselves to the source from which peace springs, along with forgiveness and reconciliation. The peace of heart comes when we let Jesus reign within us—take possession of our thoughts, words, and actions—filling our inner space and transforming our entire life. Jesus, the source of all peace, remembers us, restores joy to our hearts, and grants us the grace of a new beginning. His words, “Today you will be with me in Paradise,” reconcile us and speak of a new hope; and hope does not disappoint.
Promoters of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation
This hope sets us on the path toward others. Living under His reign of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation calls us to foster within our communities signs and spaces of genuine encounter, interest in others, understanding, and mutual acceptance. When Christ the King is our source, we are able to live in continuous conversion, take initiative, promote peace and forgiveness, and cultivate a communal environment that restores, strengthens, sustains, and offers rest to the heart. Committed to the desire for a more just and fraternal world, we feel called to share and bear witness to this personal and communal experience. This propels us into mission so that the experience of Christ the King in our lives may be reflected in the spaces we share with others. In the face of so many hostile and discouraging environments, it becomes even more necessary for Christ the King of the Universe to restore and reign within us, granting us peace and making us reflections of that peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Yania Soto
Province of Central America and Cuba