Christ the King

Today we make that transition from the end of one liturgical year to another.  Before we spend four weeks considering the Incarnation, we will spend a day celebrating the reality that Jesus Christ is our King and Good Shepherd.  The readings lead us to understand that Christ reigns as the image of the living God, whom through the Incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection, has brought us salvation and peace.

Matthew's Gospel seems ominous and even harsh.  If we have been good people, and not murdered anyone, why would there be a judgement.  To answer that we go back to chapter 5 in Matthew's Gospel, whereas Jesus indicates the vision of discipleship.  Virtues such as meekness, humility, and peacemaking,  can focus one on God's reign, and help us to be good disciples.  It is always worth noting that the righteous are also scratching their heads here; they have ministered to, and served others, simply because it was the right thing to do.

Jesus suffers and dies on a cross so as to reveal the resurrection.  If we are following Jesus we have to be willing to suffer and die with him - again and again.  We all remember Sister telling us to 'offer it up,' or to 'carry our cross' when it came time for difficult tasks.  Discipleship is more intense than doing nice things for other people.  The reason I dislike service hours for confirmation students is that they work at 'getting' their hours completed, rather than seeing service as part of the Church.  The paschal mystery is a challenge to go out and share good news.

The stories of the Gospels convey to us the visible love and compassion of a God we cannot see.  The Church which shares in the ministry of Christ our King, continues to carry out the love and mercy of God.  By imitating Jesus, being serious disciples, we continue to proclaim good news.  A few weeks ago I had stopped in the rectory for a mid-day snack.  Walking down the sidewalk was a school parent with her kids in tow.  They were going to work in the food pantry.  Not only is this a great ministry, but mom is being a model of what it means to be a disciple.

Saint Francis told his friars to proclaim the Gospel wherever they went, using words if they had to.  This feast is about God's great 'Amen' for all people of all time.  The Church continues on the mission and ministry of the Christ by it's preaching, teaching, and sanctifying.  By our participation in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, we proclaim what we have seen and heard in Jesus Christ.  By being faithful Disciples we make known the fact that Christ is King.