This feast was initially instituted in 1925 to combat rising nationalism and fascism. The intent was to affirm the primacy of Christ over all nations.
After Vatican 2, the feast was moved to close out the liturgical year. It is the culmination of Ordinary Time and is the point towards which the whole liturgical journey has moved us. It’s also the point towards which all of history has been moving and continues to move.
The final battle has already been won and Christ already sits enthroned, firmly in control of the universe. Like many things of faith, we celebrate and live in the tension of what is, but also what is not quite yet – what we look forward to.
The feast is problematic these days on a number of levels:
- At best, royalty is a quaint, old European custom that does not speak to us today.
- Royalty can be associated with colonialism.
- Royalty evokes more negative than positive feelings in general.
- Being a king is a patriarchal role.
- The feast has the ring of triumphalism – we’re on the winning side and we’ll let you know it.