The Catholic faithful celebrated the end of another liturgical year with the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe last November 23, 2025. Another liturgical year closed, but with the Advent season just around the corner. As Most. Rev Elias Ayuban Jr., CMF, DD., Bishop of Cubao, reiterated – the celebration of Christ the King is very timely as it sits between the World Day of the Poor (declared by Pope Francis to be held every thirty-third Sunday of the year in 2016) and between the Advent season. It is timely because the King cannot be separated from the poor, the King cannot be separated from the lay faithful.
Christ the King was not an ordinary king. He is one who –
Forgives instead of condemns
Loves even if it is difficult to carry His cross and
Places others first beside Him in His Kingdom;
Being Catholics, the lay must be deliberate in imbibing the same characteristics as Christ by having a heart for those in need through acts of charity not only during the upcoming Christmas season, but each and every day. Acts of service does not only revolve around the parish walls, but more importantly it must be taken outside the Church to those who may greatly need it – physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. For striving to live like Christ, one must live a life of mission all for God’s greater glory; as Bishop Eli states, ‘serving the poor is honoring the king’.
As the celebration of Christ the King continued, Bishop Eli emphasized that in order to be more like Christ, Catholics are encouraged to be closer to the poor. To have the humility to long to serve than to be served – be it at the work, personal life, or in the parish. It is the mission of all lay to follow Christ’s footsteps even through challenging times. Bishop Eli further stated, “Kung ako bilang Obisipo ay gustong sumunod sa Panginoon, hindi dapat ako paglingkuran, ako yung dapat maglingkod. Hindi ako palaging naka upo sa upuan ko sa Cathedral, kundi aabutin ko ang mga nasa laylayan ng Lipunan.” (If I, as your Bishop want to follow the footsteps of Christ, I should not be served, rather I should be the one serving. I should not be seated on my chair at the Cathedral, but reaching out to those less fortunate).
Bishop Eli ends his homily with an invitation for the lay faithful to take up their cross(es) and to follow Christ, not to the palace, where pride, power and fear reside, but to live a life filled with compassion, mercy and service.
As 2025 comes to an end and 2026 to begin in less than two months, may Christ the King forever reign in the hearts of all Catholics!