Bishop David McGough wrote this piece for the Catholic Herald to mark the Solemnity of Christ the King in 2010.
The prayers for the Solemnity of Christ the King address Christ as the King of all creation and invite us to live by his Gospel so as to enter the joy of his kingdom.
The language of a sovereign monarchy, while rooted in institutions of the past, describes a fundamental aspect of our relationship with God. The proclamation of Christ as universal King is something more than a purely intellectual confession of faith. To acknowledge Christ as King and Lord is to surrender our lives and all that we are to his service. A sinful world creates many false kingdoms around its own selfishness. Sin, no less than despotic reigns in the past, has the subtle power to subject us to its own reign and influence. On this day we proclaim that Christ is the only King with the power to change and claim our lives.
