Solemnity
of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
HOMILY
AND ANGELUS OF POPE FRANCIS
Saint
Peter's Square
Sunday,
23 November 2014
HOMILY
Today’s
liturgy invites us to fix our gaze on Christ, the King of the Universe. The
beautiful prayer of the Preface reminds us that his kingdom is “a kingdom of
truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and
peace”. The readings we have listened to show us how Jesus established his
kingdom; how he brings it about in history; and what he now asks of us.
First,
how Jesus brought about his kingdom: he did so through his closeness and
tenderness towards us. He is the Shepherd, of whom the Prophet Ezekiel spoke in
the First Reading (cf. 34:11-12, 15-17). These verses are interwoven with verbs
which show the care and love that the Shepherd has for his flock: to search, to
look over, to gather the dispersed, to lead into pasture, to bring to rest, to
seek the lost sheep, to lead back the confused, to bandage the wounded, to heal
the sick, to take care of, to pasture. All of these are fulfilled in Jesus
Christ: he is truly the “great Shepherd of the sheep and the protector of our
souls” (cf. Heb 13:20; 1 Pt 2:25).
Those
of us who are called to be pastors in the Church cannot stray from this
example, if we do not want to become hirelings. In this regard the People of
God have an unerring sense for recognizing good shepherds and in distinguishing
them from hirelings.
After
his victory, that is after his Resurrection, how has Jesus advanced his
kingdom? The Apostle Paul, in the First Letter to the Corinthians, says: “for
he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (15:25). The
Father, little by little, subjects all to the Son and, at the same time, the Son
subjects all to the Father, including even himself in the end. Jesus is not a
King according to earthly ways: for him, to reign is not to command, but to
obey the Father, to give himself over to the Father, so that his plan of love
and salvation may be brought to fulfilment. In this way there is full
reciprocity between the Father and the Son. The period of Christ’s reign is the
long period of subjecting everything to the Son and consigning everything to
the Father. “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:26). And in the
end, when all things will be under the sovereignty of Jesus, and everything,
including Jesus himself, will be subjected to the Father, God will be all in
all (cf. 1 Cor 15:28).
The
Gospel teaches what Jesus’ kingdom requires of us: it reminds us that closeness
and tenderness are the rule of life for us also, and that on this basis we will
be judged. This is how we will be judged. This is the great parable of the
final judgement in Matthew 25. The King says: “Come, O blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I
was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a
stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and
you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (25:34-36). The righteous
will ask him: when did we do all this? And he will answer them: “Truly, I say
to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to
me” (Mt 25:40).
The
starting point of salvation is not the confession of the sovereignty of Christ,
but rather the imitation of Jesus’ works of mercy through which he brought
about his kingdom. The one who accomplishes these works shows that he has
welcomed Christ’s sovereignty, because he has opened his heart to God’s
charity. In the twilight of life we will be judged on our love for, closeness
to and tenderness towards our brothers and sisters. Upon this will depend our
entry into, or exclusion from, the kingdom of God: our belonging to the one
side or the other. Through his victory, Jesus has opened to us his kingdom. But
it is for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now – his kingdom begins
now – by being close in concrete ways to our brothers and sisters who ask for
bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity, catechesis. If we truly love them, we
will be willing to share with them what is most precious to us, Jesus himself
and his Gospel.
Today
the Church places before us the example of these new saints. Each in his or her
own way served the kingdom of God, of which they became heirs, precisely
through works of generous devotion to God and their brothers and sisters. They
responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of God and
neighbour. They dedicated themselves, without holding back, to serving the
least and assisting the destitute, sick, elderly and pilgrims. Their preference
for the smallest and poorest was the reflection and measure of their
unconditional love of God. In fact, they sought and discovered love in a strong
and personal relationship with God, from whence springs forth true love for
one’s neighbour. In the hour of judgement, therefore, they heard that tender
invitation: “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34).
Through
the rite of canonization, we have confessed once again the mystery of God’s
kingdom and we have honoured Christ the King, the Shepherd full of love for his
sheep. May our new saints, through their witness and intercession, increase
within us the joy of walking in the way of the Gospel and our resolve to
embrace the Gospel as the compass of our lives. Let us follow in their
footsteps, imitating their faith and love, so that our hope too may be clothed
in immortality. May we not allow ourselves to be distracted by other earthly
and fleeting interests. And may Mary, our Mother and Queen of all Saints, guide
us on the way to the kingdom of heaven.
ANGELUS
Saint
Peter's Square
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Dear Brothers and
Sisters,
At the end of this celebration, I wish to greet
all of you who have come to pay tribute to these new saints, especially the
official delegations from Italy and India.
The example of these four Italian saints, born in the Provinces of
Vicenza, Naples, Cosenza and Rimini, aids the dear people of Italy to renew the
spirit of cooperation and concord for the common good and to look to the future
with hope, trusting in the nearness of God, who never abandons us, even in
moments of difficulty.
For the intercession of the two Indian saints from Kerala, great
land of faith and vocations to the priesthood and religious life, may the Lord
grant new missionary drive to the Church in India — that is so good! — so that,
inspired by their example of concord and reconciliation, the Christians of
India may continue on the path of solidarity and fraternal coexistence.
I affectionately greet the cardinals, bishops, priests, as well as
the families, parish groups, associations and schools present. With filial
love, let us turn now to the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, Queen of the
Saints and model for all Christians.
I wish you a happy Sunday, in peace and with the joy of these new
saints. I ask you to please pray for me. Have a good lunch and arrivederci!
* Today is celebrated the canonization of blesseds:
- GIOVANNI ANTONIO FARINA
- KURIAKOSE ELIAS CHAVARA OF THE HOLY FAMILY
- LUDOVICO OF CASORIA
- NICOLA OF LONGOBARDI
- EUPHRASIA ELUVATHINGAL OF THE SACRED HEART
- AMATO RONCONI
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