Non-negotiables

In Seminary our Rector would begin every school year with the non-negotiable talk.  One of the non-negotiables was that seminarians were not to date.  Seemed obvious enough, but there must have been a reason to mention it.  The thought was, to be sure, that if we were preparing for a specific lifestyle of service and commitment, we had to begin to embrace that lifestyle.  It was not enough to study and pray, we needed to be as priests.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King.  The mission and ministry of Jesus was always directed towards a particular end, namely the salvation of all men and women through the paschal sacrifice.  In Mark's Gospel when Peter attempts to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem, Jesus refers to him as a 'Satan.'  He accuses Peter of not understanding the Mission.

In John's Gospel, after the feeding of the 5,000, as people followed Jesus, he challenged that they were doing so only because they had been fed, and cautioned them not to be swayed in one direction or another, simply for bread to eat.  Of course after Jesus describes himself as the Bread of Life, some folks still wanted to leave him.

Also in John's Gospel Jesus reminds his followers that what he teaches and does is not about him, but rather it is about the Father in heaven.  As a good shepherd Jesus desires to gather all men and women, especially the lost and forsaken, and present them to the Father in heaven.  And as a shepherd he demonstrates that a good leader is a good servant who washes feet and dies for others, that there might be salvation and peace.

In today's Gospel reading from 18 John, Jesus does not distance himself from his mission of proclaiming the truth.  While Pilate is experiencing inner turmoil as to what course to take, Jesus does not waiver in his determination to live fully as the suffer-servant.  This is a non-negotiable for Jesus.  More so, while Jesus is bound and injured, it is really he that has power and authority.

So today we celebrate the Kingship of the Christ, who comes into our lives as one like us, and teaches us how to live more like him.  He leaves us a set of non-negotiables that leads to life with the King of the universe in heaven.