How many of you believe that "history repeats itself?"  Those who say yes, would probably admit that history doesn't repeat itself in certain situations in every detail, but enough that we can say "it's happening again" and either have joy, anger or sorrow about "it."

Almost 90 years ago, Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ The King through the encyclical "Quas Primas" (In The First") to respond to the growing SECULARISM (the adoration of idols) that was happening most clear and strongly in that time in Mexico, Russia and Europe.  Fast forward from then until now, and there are many who believe that secularism is now, in out time rearing its ugly head in the United States and more than a few other countries and even continents throughout the world.

I hope you would agree and I think you will if you have a grasp of history, that since the founding of our country, the relationship of faith and culture has grown apart in some, (and when you think about where we are now), they've grown apart in many and in alarming ways.  There was a time when people's faith lives were strong and influenced not only individuals and family lives, but also the life of our country.  In our lifetime (at least most of us) we can remember the popularity of Bishop Sheen with his weekly program.  It spoke volumes of where people's priorities were at that time. Can you begin to imagine a bishop, archbishop, or even cardinal having such a weekly program on network television today?

Whereas for much of our country's history, the Constitution led our country's leaders to protect our religious freedoms from intrusion by our government, things have moved away, some would say far away from that to recently where there are people, government leaders and citizens who believe that our government needs to be protected from intrusion by religion.  There are plenty who are working diligently to prevent the Christian conscience from influencing public policy. The so called HHS mandate, where the department of Health and Human Services has required even objecting employers, including Church employers to provide insurance coverage for sterilization and contraceptives including drugs that cause early abortions is a strong example of the government defining and dividing the religious community.

The wall of separation between Church and State, though not in the Constitution has become a wall of enclosure, not protection, as people of faith are gradually relegated to celebrating our faith only within the privacy of their homes or within the walls of their places of public worship.  If we "dare" to venture beyond these walls and seek to bring truth (and we still believe there is objective truth that comes from God directly through Jesus Christ), into the public arena, we are accused of "imposing " our views by the same people who are trying to impose a wall of isolation around the Church.

Any true, sincere student of American history knows just how far this is from the founding years of our country.

I have a feeling many of us would respond yes or Amen to the statement that while America did not create religious liberty (that's a liberty whose source is God), that RELIGIOUS LIBERTY MADE AMERICA.

Being a disciple of Christ, (and I want to comment that there are scripture scholars who believe and teach that Jesus' words in today's Gospel about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty was specifically referring to his disciples, those who learn, teach and live the Gospel as "the creed" of truth and life), being a disciple means, among other things bringing our faith from the walls of worship into the public square in many different ways.  Pope Francis made this clear when he said this: "Religious freedom is not simply freedom of thought or private worship.  It is the freedom to live according to ethical principles, both privately AND PUBLICLY consequent to the truth one has found."  We are among a large number who believe that "the Truth" can be found in a perfect way through Jesus Christ, our King, our shepherd, our Lord.

We need this feast of Christ the King, more so than ever NOW to say firmly and loudly that Jesus Christ is King like no other.  While he himself said to Pilate, "my kingdom is not of this world," his kingdom which we believe lasts for all eternity has great implications for this world until the end of time.  He has no desire (like some do) to conquer lands, he desires to conquer hearts and be the king of our hearts.  When he does, we recognize and hopefully lead others to recognize the dignity of all persons, we are committed to justice, we have a great love for the poor, and recognize and use the gifts we have to promote the common good.

I think it would be good to end this homily with reflections of Pope Pius XI on what was happening in his time that led him to establish the feast we are celebrating today.  I think you'll agree it sounds like our times.

"The empire of Christ over all nations was rejected.  The right which the Church has from Christ himself, to teach mankind, to make laws, to govern peoples in all that pertains to their eternal salvation, that right was being denied.
Then gradually the religion of Christ came to be likened to false religions and to be placed ignominiously on the same level with them. It was then put under the power of the state and tolerated more or less at the whim of prices and rulers."

Does any of this sound  familiar? Let us then do what we can in prayer and action to not let history repeat itself in ways that bring great harm to us, our nation, our world and generations to come.