The King? God's Anointed One

Today is the last Sunday of the Catholic liturgical calendar year. It is also the Feast Day of Christ the King. For me, the idea of Christ as a king can be a bit perplexing. Christ is God’s anointed one, full stop. That title alone surpasses and subsumes all others.

This nation fought for its independence from a monarch, and has been, until recently, ruled by three equal branches of government. Two of these branches are based on the citizenry voting. As a citizen of the United States of America, a democratic republic, the idea of a king is foreign to me and requires creative thinking. It is also a reminder that the Catholic Church is universal, and the Mystical Body of Christ surpasses and subsumes national identities.

Identifying Christ as the King is one of countless titles in a litany of names and titles to honor and praise Christ. In Hebrew Scripture, and in many of today’s societies, the king has the final word on decisions and ways of being. The word of the monarch rules all aspects of life. With this in mind, may we honor and praise God’s anointed one, Christ the King.