Daily Thoughts: The Feast of Christ the King has never been one
of my favorite feasts. I think it is because kings have never really been a
positive image for me during my life time. I have grown up in the age of
democracy, kings and kingdoms seem to be part of the past. I have read about
kings and kingdoms. I have studies them in school. Over the course of history
one can find a lot a positive images, stories and experiences of kings and
kingdoms however from a personal perspective they are part of days gone by, not
the reality of my life experience. Truth be told, kings and kingdoms for me
often symbolize a time when ordinary people meant nothing and there was a great
divide between the “haves” and the “have nots!”
So what am I, what are we, to do today, faced with Christ
honored, celebrated, as a king. Well, first, we need to look at the reality of
Jesus' kingdom; it is a kingdom that is not of this world, meaning it is
different kind of kingdom, one we have never seen or experience before. It is a
kingdom of truth, and a truth that can set us free. We also know from the life
of Jesus that it was not about the “haves” and the “have nots,” it was about
community, it was about people. Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of caring for the
hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill and the imprisoned. In
other worlds it is a kingdom where we recognize the king amongst us.
In my homily today I used the image of Pope Francis and an
image of Jesus as King. I asked the question, “What most intrigues us about
Pope Francis?” Well I think it is the way he has gone about being Pope. He
chose not to live by himself, but to live amongst others. He chose not to eat
by himself, but to eat with others. He chose not to celebrate Mass by himself,
but to celebrate with others. Pope Francis has chosen to be part of the Church
not just the head of the Church and I think that makes all the difference.
Jesus chose to be part of us, to be amongst us and that has
made all the difference as we celebrate his Kingship today. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, it is
beyond, government, power, authority and institution. It is a body, a living
body made up of many members working as one for the good of all, for the
salvation of all, for the love of all. Jesus' as king rules to bring out the
best in us so that truth, life, holiness, grace, justice, love and peace will
be lived. Jesus rules here and now. So may we follow the example of Jesus, the
true shepherd, and be the Body of Christ, and be the Kingdom of God, a kingdom
that truly honors its people by not walking past the hungry, the thirsty, the
stranger, the naked, the ill, the imprisoned, or anyone who becomes Christ for
us by challenging us to care.
Let us honor Christ our King today by becoming instruments
of his justice, peace and presence in the world today. Bringing love where
there is hate, bringing pardon, where people are hurting, bringing faith to
moments of doubt, bringing hope to hopeless times, bringing compassion when
uncaring is the norm and bringing the light joy to an often joyless world. Let
us honor Christ our King, by giving, pardoning and loving so that one day all
may be born in to the true Kingdom of eternal life!
Have a blessed and faith filled Sunday everyone and don’t
forget to give God a little time today!
Daily Prayer: Loving God, may we look beyond the earthly images
of king and find your loving presence in our life this day and always. May it
lead us to truth, life, holiness, grace, justice, joy and peace. May it make us
true workers in your eternal kingdom of love! Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: “Fear of trying causes paralysis. Trying
causes only trembling and sweating. (Mason
Cooley)
"Happiness is an
inexpressibly misleading and temporary thing, decides nothing; the true stations
of joy are on the road which lies through simple endurance." (Rainer Maria Rilke)
Daily Blessing: Sunday greetings and blessing to all and happy
Feast of Christ the King! As the morning starts of it appears that we are going
to have a cloudy day. I will not complain because I know some areas of the
country are shoveling snow and I am happy not to be fighting the white stuff
today!
I am also celebrating today the 62nd anniversary
of my baptism. Yes, 62 years ago on November 22, 1953, 20 days after I was born
I was welcomed into the Church. Thanks to my parents I was dedicated to God
this day and welcomed into this wonderful faith community called Church.
And just 52 years ago we mourned as a nation the loss of our
president. Yes, 52 years ago today President John F. Kennedy was shot and
killed in Dallas, TX. Unfortunately, we still mourn people being shot in our
nation not by terrorists, but by one another. Still no gun laws, still no
respect for human life, still no peace!
And so as we journey through this last Sunday of the Church
year, as we remember important events of life, as we remember tragic events of
life and many events in between let us offer a prayer for peace. A prayer for
peace in everyone’s heart, in everyone’s soul, in everyone’s life!
Have a blessed and holy Sunday. May we celebrate this day
with joy and peace for this is the Day that the Lord has made so let us rejoice
and be glad. May there always be work for us to do. May our pockets and purses always hold a coin
or two. May the sun always shine warm on our windowpanes. May a rainbow be
certain to follow each rain. May the hand of family, a loved one and a friend
always be near and may God fill our hearts with gladness and love that we in
turn can share! May the blessing of Christ the Shepherd and Servant King be
upon you today and always. Don’t forget to give God a little time sometime
today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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