Christ the King

Our readings for Christ the King Sunday are:

1. Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17
2. Psalms 23: 1-2, 2-3, 5-6
3. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28
4. Matthew 25: 31-46

• Servant Leadership
• We've been through a grueling several weeks as a nation.  We used to complain that the campaign leading up to the presidential election seemed to take an eternity.  Now the bitterness, accusations, legal maneuvers after the election have become a season all its own, and there is still no end in sight apparently.
• When you pray for our leaders, for the world's leaders, what do you ask God for?
• When you think about elections, what sort of framework do you long for?  Is it a gladiator winner take all, perhaps vindication of the right perspective over the wrong perspective, maybe preservation of all that's good against the forces of evil, a chance to discuss different point of view and forge a consensus, a time for prayer and reflection, several of the above, ...?
• If you could bless every one of our leaders with just one virtue which would that be?  Maybe courage, integrity, patience, ... those are all good.  Personally, I'm going to vote for humility.
• How will you pray going forward?

• Giving what you deserve
• Luke 6:38 "Give and it shall be given unto you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
• The hardest thing about spiritual discernment is often knowing when to say "no" to a request that comes our way so that our "yes" can really mean something.  How do you know when to say "no"?
• Once you have said "yes" to something, how do you know when to review that "yes" at a later time?
• What are some things that prevent you from becoming an altogether cheerful giver?

• Finding the real enemy
• Mary & I watched a movie about prayer called War Room.  Very moving.  One of the lines was to the effect that we are often fighting, be it with a heartless manager, a lazy coworker, a self-absorbed child, but the real enemy remains hidden because he likes it that way.
• What are some of the things/people that you are fighting in your life?
• How do you pray about/for them?
• Do you ever stop to think about what the root/source of those problems might be?
• Should that change the way that you pray?

• Playing to your strengths
• I call it the service inoculation.  Your church has a vibrant ministry to some group of marginalized and needy constituency, and part of you wants to say "great, we have that covered, glad that's done."
• "Needy" comes in lots of forms.  It might be someone who never learned to read, someone who's never learned the life skills to manage a budget on their own, or someone who's been abused as a child and can never trust anyone, or the result of a broken marriage, or ...  Who are the needy in your circle?
• Which of those needs calls to you in some way?
• How qualified do you think that you have to be, in order to be useful to the needy?
• How deserving do you think they have to be before Jesus would ask you to help them?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How can I help our leaders to lead more wisely?
2. Does my generosity need a tune-up?
3. Do my prayers go deep enough to make a difference?
4. How am I giving myself away?

Happy New Years

The liturgical calendar reminds us of an alternate reality,

One not governed by month end closing, or Black Friday specials,

But one framed in signs, and wonders, and memories near and distant.

The warp and woof of this hidden life has been gradually a weaving

Since our first parents gazed into the heavens and recognized the hand of God

And gave thanks in return.

It can all seem disconnected, unreal.

What is Advent without Christmas Carols, big family parties, shared football games?

How are we to truly celebrate in this quarantine?

But still, we turn the calendar page, and there it is,

The end of this year, the start of the next,

Seemingly indifferent to all that has gone on this year.

Or maybe we have it all wrong.

And the steady march of seasons, feasts, remembrances,

Is there to remind us not that recent events are petty, or small,

But that they fit into a much larger story that is easy to miss

Simply because it spans so much time, so many lives, all peoples,

The story of God's faithfulness in our midst through it all.

So I pray that this Thanksgiving, wherever and however you celebrate,

You take a little time to ponder whatever heavens arc above you,

And be as specific as you know how to be

As you breathe your prayers of thanks.

Shalom!