Feast of Christ the King

“Worthy is the Lamb”

(Apoc.5:12)

Sermon for 28 October 2018 

________________________________________________________________________ “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and

honor. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever” (Apoc.5:12;1:6).

So begins the Introit of the Mass of Christ the King. We read in the book of the Prophet Daniel:

“I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven. And he came even to the Ancient of days: and they presented him before him. And he gave him power and glory and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve him. His power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed” (Dan.7:13,14).

Christ is therefore our King, appointed as such by God the Father. For:

“God also has exalted him and has bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:9-11).

Those who refuse to believe the Gospel are not in good faith, they are not “men of good will.” They cannot be saved because they have rejected God’s offer of salvation, insulting Him and His Divine Son. We know this because Our Lord Himself said:

“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned” (Mk.16:16).

To refuse the Gospel, therefore, means to refuse God Himself. The Lord made this clear when He sent His Apostles before Him into the towns He intended to visit, with this instruction:

“And whoever does not receive you, or listen to your words – go forth outside that house or town, and shake off the dust from your feet. Amen I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that town” (Mt.10:14,15).

Any nation that refuses to recognize the authority of Christ is under the same judgment, and must face the terrible wrath of God. Our civilization, which began as Christian but now rejects Christ and His authority, is nearing its judgment. The signs are there – corrupt government structures, the enormous national debt, the spiraling degeneration of morals, the increasing violence and crime, the rise of neo-paganism, etc.

The new theology of the Church of the New Order (Novus Ordo), spearheaded by John Paul II, teaches that everyone is saved, and that it is not necessary for everyone to believe in Jesus Christ. He will save them

1

nonetheless. This is why the official Vatican policy is to no longer preach the Gospel to the Jews, whom, they tell us, have their own covenant with God, still valid. The unfortunate Jews, not having the Gospel preached to them, will have to find out the truth of the Gospel for themselves. Strangely enough, the website “Israel Today” reports the following:

“A few months before he died, one of the nation’s most prominent rabbis, Yitzhak Kaduri, supposedly wrote the name of the Messiah on a small note which he requested would remain sealed until now. When the note was unsealed, it revealed what many have known for centuries: Yehoshua, or Yeshua (Jesus), is the Messiah. (“Israel Today,” April 30, 2007, http://www.israeltoday.co.il).

Did Jesus Christ sent His Apostles to teach all nations, baptizing them “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” so that everyone could become a member of His Church and be saved? Obviously, He did. Read the Gospels, and study the constant teaching of the Church from apostolic times up until the preaching of the “new all-inclusive gospel” of the conciliar church, which dates back barely a generation.

True religion is not even defended today by those who claim to be its representatives. There is now a new “openness” towards all false religions, and the idea that everyone is free to reject the Gospel. St. Paul tells us:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in after times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of devils…” (1Tim.4:1).

Monsignor Anthony Frontiero, a Vatican official, addressing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Warsaw, Poland, Sept. 24- Oct. 5, 2007), quoted Benedict XVI as saying that, “the right to religious liberty is fundamental, irrepressible, inalienable and inviolable,” claiming that:

“… the exercise of this freedom includes the right to change religion, which should be guaranteed not only legally, but also in daily practice,” and, “As we witness the varied religious reactions to the social problems of our day, there is evidence that the significant world religions, including Christianity, are promoting peace and justice as essential dimensions of their religious commitment” (Oct. 18, 2007,Zenit.org).

Pope Pius in Quas Primas, his encyclical on Christ the King, speaks otherwise:

“Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ… His kingly dignity demands that the State should take account of the commandments of God and of Christian principles, both in making laws and in administering justice…”

Pope Pius also states:

“…it is a dogma of faith that Jesus Christ was given to man, not only as our Redeemer, but also as a lawgiver, to whom obedience is due.” To deny this would then be to deny the rights of Christ the King and His Church, and to fall into heresy.”

When Christ the King is “lifted up from the earth” (as we will do during our Blessed Sacrament procession), He welcomes all who come to Him. We must also welcome all those who come to us at St. Jude Shrine. We must do this in obedience to Jesus Christ, Who is King of “all peoples, tribes, and tongues.”

Viva Cristo Rey! Long live Christ the King! †

• Father Louis Campbell