Solemnity of Christ the King

One day a Texan was visiting New Melleray.  You know how Texans like to exaggerate.  Well, after a tour of Trappist Caskets and our nineteen hundred acre farm the visitor said, “In Texas we have front lawns that are larger than your whole farm.”  Then, seeing our beautiful Church he boasted, “We have bedrooms that are bigger.”  The Guest Master was getting annoyed with these exaggerations so he got a snapping turtle and put it under the covers of the Texan’s bed.  When he showed the visitor his room for the night there was a large lump under the blankets.  The Texan turned back the covers and said, “Good heavens! What’s that?”  Fr. Jerome laughed and said nonchalantly, “Why, that’s only an Iowa bedbug.”  The Southerner looked again and replied, “Well, I guess it is. But it must be very young, it’s so tiny.”

Today, the feast of Christ the King, Jesus is described as coming on the clouds of heaven.  Elsewhere he warns us that the sun and moon will be darkened and stars will fall from the sky. Is Jesus exaggerating like a Texan, or are these images symbolic of something else?  

Describing the rebellion of Lucifer and his angels, the prophet Isaiah writes, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star!” (Is 14:12).  And in the Book of Revelation St. John writes, “I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth … the sun and moon were darkened” (Rev 9:1f).  “A great red dragon appeared … His tail swept down a third of the stars from heaven and threw them to the earth” (Rev. 12:3f).  Here falling stars and the darkening of sun and moon are symbols of a much greater catastrophe, the fall of the angels who rebelled and became devils.  Now they want to make us fall and share in their darkness. 

Jesus warns us that, “Many will fall away.  And because wickedness is multiplied most people’s love will grow cold,” (Mt. 24:10-12).  He says, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk. 18:8).  This warning sends chills down my spine. The darkening of sun and moon, and falling stars are symbols of the fall of angels and of all those whose faith has died and whose love has grown cold.  For them the coming of Christ the King will be dreadfully fearful, because they live in the darkness of sin.

To prepare for his coming, Jesus says, “Watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man,” (Lk 21:34).  That’s a prayer I say every day because Jesus wants us to pray it. “Lord Jesus, may I persevere and have the strength to endure and escape all that is to come and stand before you with joy when you appear.”