Christ Our King

It seems that only when our lives are turned upside down do we realize what is truly important. Only when what we deemed important is no longer there, do we understand that so many things are actually rather unimportant. So what IS important? While the answer may vary somewhat, a few things should not falter to us as Christians. 

First and foremost, God is important. He is so important that we wouldn’t exist without Him and our lives would be void of meaning. Secondly, people are important. Lately I have been reminded again and again about the importance of hospitality. It does not matter if someone breaks one of my kids’ toys or spills on my carpet. What matters is that I am spending time with loved ones and welcoming them into my home. I am showing them that they matter to me and are not forgotten. Thirdly, what we do for/with God and for/with people is important. God has given us a set of Commandments to follow and Christ as a solid example to imitate. He has also given us people to interact with and share with. What is it that we share? How do we interact? 

It all comes down to the importance we place on living for God alone. Is Christ truly my King? If He is my King then that implies that a whole lot of other people (and things) are not my king. There can only be one King. If devotedness is divided, chaos ensues and perhaps even betrayal. 

Today’s readings portray these thoughts so well. In the first reading, God promises to look after, tend, rescue, pasture, give rest to, seek out, bring back, bind up and heal his sheep. All of these words evoke tenderness and care, love and compassion. Then he says: “but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.” He lets us know that if we humble ourselves and allow Him to be King, He will care for us, but if we choose pride, he will discipline us. 

The second reading similarly speaks of proper order, Christ first and then those who belong to Him. It also speaks of destroying every sovereignty, authority and power, and everything being subjected to Him, “so that God may be all in all”. Once again, we are asked to step down from our soap boxes, our makeshift thrones, and allow Christ to govern us and guide us. 

And lastly, the Gospel is the parable of the sheep and the goats, reminding us that whatsoever we do to others, we do it to God. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

May the Holy Spirit remind us loud and clear today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, that God seeks humble vessels to carry out His work and that He is the one and only true King, no matter how much we might (inadvertently) convince ourselves otherwise. Christ My King, reign in my heart today and always. May You be what is truly important to me, my All!

By Tami Urcia