“You Are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”: Christ the King and Mary the Queen

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Peter makes his bold and decisive confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  With these words, Peter recognizes Jesus not simply as a teacher or prophet, but as the long‑awaited Messiah - the true King sent by the Father to redeem His people.  Peter’s confession is the moment when the identity of Jesus is spoken clearly and publicly:  He is King. He reigns by saving, by giving His life, and by drawing all people into the life of God.
 
This profession of faith also sheds light on the memorial we celebrated on Saturday - the Queenship of Mary.  If Jesus is truly King, then His Mother shares in His royal dignity.  In Scripture, the queen was the mother of the king, honored for her closeness to him and trusted to intercede for the people. Mary fulfills this role perfectly.
 
Mary is Queen because Christ is King.  Her greatness does not come from any earthly honor, status, or power.  She is not “Queen” because of privilege, rank, or position in a worldly sense.  Rather, her queenship flows entirely from the way she lived her life before God.  She is Queen because she first was servant; she reigns because she first believed.  She is the one who said “yes” at the Annunciation, who stood at the Cross, and who was assumed body and soul into the glory of her Son.  Her crown is the crown of humility, obedience, and love.
 
Peter’s confession and Mary’s queenship belong together.  Peter teaches us to proclaim Jesus as King with our lips.  Mary teaches us to live under His kingship with our lives.  Both invite us to answer Jesus’ question personally and wholeheartedly: “But who do you say that I am?”
 
As we reflect on Christ the King and Mary the Queen, may we renew our own confession of faith.  May we proclaim Jesus as the Christ with conviction, and may we follow Him with the trust and devotion that marked Mary’s life.  Her queenship is a sign of our hope: what God has done for Mary, He desires to do for all who belong to Christ.
 
I wish you a grace-filled week!
 
Fr. Nick Apetorgbor