Christ the King

Our readings for Christ the King Sunday are:

1. Daniel 7: 13-14
2. Psalms 93: 1, 1-2, 5
3. Revelations 1: 5-8
4. John 18: 33b-37

1. Enduring is hard to do
• Kingdoms topple in the face of change.  That change can come from within or without, or both, but it will come.  Typically, that institution/nation/kingdom which cannot adapt to change is doomed.  Yet the kingdom of God is constant, eternal.  It's very constancy is its greatest strength.
• Why is that?
• What does that say about the institutions that we are a part of, that we support?
• What does that say about the amount of energy that we pour into those temporal institutions?
2. God's interior designer has it tough
• The throne room of rich and powerful kingdoms have symbols, mementos if you will, commemorating the greatness of the kingdom.  Perhaps the crowns of conquered kings, tribute from loyal vassals, palace guards resplendent in their polished armor.
• What do you think God's throne room looks like?
• If you were to design a church that would encourage the attendees to worship with full, conscious and active participation, how would you design it?
3. It's going to be too late for broccoli
• At the end of the world, Catholic doctrine tells us that we will all understand each other the way that God understands us.  Just maybe, when we really see why people acted the way that they did, what motivated them, what their dreams and passions were, we'll get a far clearer vision of who our creator is.  Maybe that's the ultimate revelation of God.
• Do you think that you'll be at all surprised when you see God's face?
• Is that bad?
• If it is, what can we do now, so that seeing God face to face is not so much a surprise?
4. The truth is out there, maybe way out there
• So, if those of us who belong to the truth are listening to God's voice, why are we hearing different things?
• Or are we?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What of my life is going to endure into Eternity?
2. What am I doing to build my trust in God?
3. Given that I don't understand anyone the way that God does, how ought I to treat those around me?
4. What am I doing to bring about peace among God's children?

Bare Essentials

So much of the first half of life is spent gaining, acquiring, accumulating.
The second half, about shedding.

I don't think the shedding gets easier with time.
Each loss digs a bit deeper than before.

It's so unpredictable how it's going to occur for you.
Maybe your tennis game falters first, then your memory.

Or maybe your vision grows larger than your surroundings,
And you're no longer able to spend it all

On things that just don't matter anymore,
And suddenly, those around you, who thought they understood you,

Don't understand at all, and there you are, a living contradiction
Somehow transusbstantiated into someone new.

Beckoning, just by being there,
To follow the pilgrimage of humility into the uncharted waters of freedom.

And once you set foot to that path,
You gradually learn to embrace everyone, even the you that you left behind,

And you wake up one morning and realize,
With quiet intake of breath, that you cannot find your way back to who you were,

And with unbridled mirth you realize you don't care.
And you're able to embrace that too.

Shalom!