Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (22nd August 2021)

Reflection

Christ the King Sunday, officially called ‘the Feast of Christ the King’ and also referred to as ‘the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe’ is a feast day that celebrates the full authority of Christ as King and Lord of the universe.

The feast was originally celebrated on the final day of October, the day before All Saints’ Day. Pope Paul VI moved the feast to the last Sunday before Advent in 1969 to highlight the day’s importance. This would fall in November. Churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary honor ‘Christ the King Sunday’ as the final Sunday of the liturgical year. This includes most major mainline Protestant groups.

One of the reasons this date is so fitting is because the liturgical year begins with Advent, which is the season of awaiting the coming of Christ. Observing Christ the King Sunday at the end of the liturgical year celebrates and emphasizes the Kingship of Christ.