Day 95: Christ's Reign on Earth

"Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Christ's Ascension into heaven signifies his participation, in his humanity, in God's power and authority. Jesus Christ is Lord: he possesses all power in heaven and on earth. He is "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion", for the Father "has put all things under his feet." Christ is Lord of the cosmos and of history. In him, human history and indeed all creation are "set forth" and transcendently fulfilled. CCC 668

In today's reading, the Catechism gives us an intro of sorts into the next line of the Nicene Creed: "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end." Christ's kingdom is real and was established through the Church. Contrary to what some have claimed we Catholics believe, "As Lord, Christ is also head of the Church, which is his Body." The Pope and the bishops in communion with him are His vicars only here on earth, not the head of the Church. We don't know when precisely He will return, and those making sensational predictions through some number scheme or whatever else are false prophets, but we are called to live each day as His witnesses as if He will return at that moment. The Church on earth though is under siege, as it has been since Day One, not only from "evil spirits" and misguided souls outside of Christ's Body (Eph 6:12), but from those within. The day has not yet arrived when the wheat will be separated from the chaff (Matt 3:12). I like how the Catechism Companion, Vol I puts it:

The kingdom of Christ on earth is still under attack today. We are called the Church militant, the Church that continues to fight in the name of Jesus Christ against the powers of evil. Though Jesus is with us, we await his return with power and great glory at the end of time. (p. 194)

Christ has already defeated death and won the battle against evil, but we must cling to Him till the end. Maranatha!