Christ the King: The King Who Teaches Us to Love Our Enemies

Today, the Feast of Christ the King invites us to reflect on the unparalleled kingship of Jesus Christ, a King unlike any other. His reign is not marked by power or earthly domination but by humility, sacrificial love, and a call to serve others. Instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, this feast was intended to remind a world leaning toward secularism of the sovereignty of Christ over all creation. Nearly a century later, the Feast of Christ the King remains a powerful call to surrender our hearts to Jesus, the King of Kings.

A Kingdom Not of This World

When questioned by Pilate, Jesus revealed the true nature of His kingship:

"My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36, ESV-CE).

Christ’s throne was the Cross, and His crown was made of thorns. His reign was established through self-giving love rather than force or conquest. He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). This radical vision of kingship redefines greatness as humility and service.

Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical Quas Primas, wrote:

"He reigns in the minds of men by His teachings, in their hearts by His love, and in each one's life by living according to His law."

This kingship calls for a personal response—a surrender to Jesus, not just as a teacher or guide, but as our sovereign Lord.

The Kingdom of Christ Within Our Hearts

The kingdom of Jesus begins not in palaces or on thrones but within the human heart. Jesus said:

"The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21, ESV-CE).

For Christ to reign in our lives, we must open our hearts to Him fully, allowing Him to rule as King. This surrender invites His peace and guidance into every aspect of our lives. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

"The kingdom of God lies ahead of us. It is brought near in the Word incarnate... and it is in our midst in the Eucharist" (CCC 2816).

When we surrender our hearts to Christ, we place ourselves under the care, protection and providence of the mightiest King, one who loves us with infinite mercy and leads us toward eternal life.

A King Who Teaches Us to Love Our Enemies

What sets Jesus apart as a King is His revolutionary teaching on love and forgiveness. He commands us to love not only our neighbours but also our enemies:

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44, ESV-CE).

This teaching sets Christianity apart, as no other belief system so radically calls for love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. While others may speak of love and forgiveness, Jesus uniquely taught us to extend love even to those who hate us, and He demonstrated this on the Cross when He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34, ESV-CE).

Loving our enemies is humanly impossible without the transformative power of Christ. This divine love is an act of the Holy Spirit, filling our hearts with the love of God. When we are truly filled with His love—the true, unconditional love of Christ—we can extend that love even to those who hurt us.

This act of love allows the grace and mercy of Christ to flow to them through us, becoming a channel of His divine blessings. As St. Francis of Assisi prayed so beautifully:

"Lord, make me a channel of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your pardon;
and where there is doubt, true faith in You."

When we love our enemies, we fulfil this prayer in action, becoming instruments of Christ’s peace and love, extending His grace even to those who oppose us. This love transforms not only the lives of others but also our own, as we grow closer to the heart of Christ.

Jesus' teaching to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39) is not a sign of weakness but a call to resist evil with love rather than retaliation. His example invites us to be instruments of peace, reflecting the unique power of His kingship—a power not of force but of love and forgiveness.

Christ’s Kingdom and Our Response

Pope Francis beautifully articulated the paradox of Christ’s kingship:

"Christ is a King who sets us free to serve, who reigns by giving His life for us. To follow Him means taking up our cross, sharing in His humility, and discovering true freedom in self-giving."

As faithful citizens of His kingdom, we are called to love as He loved, serve as He served, and live in a way that reflects His light and truth in the world. Jesus’ kingdom calls for our active participation. We are invited to live as faithful subjects of the King by loving God and our neighbor, serving the poor, and sharing the Gospel.

A Missionary King

The kingship of Jesus is also a call to mission. Christ’s final command before ascending to heaven was:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19, ESV-CE).

This mandate was embraced by the apostles and countless missionaries like St. Thomas, who brought the Gospel to India, and St. Francis Xavier, who spread the Good News to Asia. Their efforts not only brought spiritual renewal but also advancements in education, healthcare, and social welfare—manifestations of Christ’s transformative reign.

Be an Ambassador for Christ’s Kingdom with BibleOn

As citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we are called to be His ambassadors, spreading His Kingdom of love, light, and service to the ends of the earth. Just as Christ commissioned His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), we too are tasked with sharing the Good News. Today, this mission is made more accessible and far-reaching through the power of digital tools like the BibleOn app.

This free, user-friendly app helps you live out your faith as a digital missionary, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in your community and beyond. Share Christ’s Kingdom with the world through the BibleOn app, a powerful tool for spreading God’s Word. Use its Bible Sharing features to create beautiful scripture images and share them on social media or WhatsApp status, inspiring others with the Good News.

Go further in your mission by helping the elderly and the sick learn how to use the app, enabling them to listen to the Word of God in their own language. By empowering others to connect with Scripture, you embody the true spirit of a digital missionary and a faithful ambassador of Christ the King.

Download BibleOn: Holy Bibles + Audio today at www.bibleon.app and let’s proclaim His Kingdom to the world—together! Long live Christ the King!

Proclaiming Christ the King Through Our Lives

The kingship of Christ reminds us that true greatness lies in humility, selflessness, and unwavering faith. As Pope Francis said,

"Christ is our King. And He reigns over us not to dominate us, but to make us free."

Let us surrender our hearts to Christ, allowing His love and truth to transform us into faithful witnesses of His eternal kingdom. On this Feast of Christ the King, let us recommit ourselves to His service, reflecting His love, mercy, and humility in all we do. Let us proclaim Him as King - not just with our lips but with our lives, becoming instruments of His kingdom on earth as we journey toward His eternal reign.