CHRIST THE KING

“Whenever God rules over the human heart as King, there is the Kingdom of God established”

Paul W. Harrison



2 Sam 5:1-3; Ps 121:1-5. Col 1:12-20. Luke 23:35-43





“Father, forgive them, they know not what they are doing.”



People today expect very many things in their lives that even if you promise them a king today, they have the courage to ask, what importance is he for us? What are we going to benefit out of that kingship, where does he come from? (What tribe is he?). Today there is too much pessimism in our life. We are living lives without examination…



Christ is on Mt. Calvary surrounded by two thieves who have been crucified and on top of his head placed an inscription: “This is the king of the Jews” (V.38). This sounds like one of those stories which can be narrated to children to please their ego. But we know today we are being surrounded and we do travel in all means of transport with fear of car hijacking, robbery etc.



The point is not that we are being surrounded by these people but we have burdened ourselves we too much of our pride that we ignore people, don’t greet, no respect for neigbour that once we are robbed, raped, killed, and terrorized, we die in total silence because we know what will follow. Where were you going? Why where you showing off? Why was so and so dressed that way? We are crucifying ourselves amidst all these people we think are “thieves” “terrorists” “rapists” before they harm us. Why? Labelling! Labelling! Labelling!



We are all blind, perhaps unaware of the evil around us and we find ourselves being indifferent in fighting corruption, moral decay, and photocopy Christianity. We think someone else should do certain things. We are good listeners but poor doers. We are all crowded under the cross of crucified Christ and everybody is talking and nobody is listening to the other, like people in the market place.



Today we have people who for a little money sell out their head and conscience, ready to collaborate in the oppression of the poorer ones. We have crucified people and labeled on top of their graves nice words which are not sincere. Better to be buried and let people walk over you than having beautiful words which are simply inscribed to distract people. There are people suffering in our communities, families, offices, corporations and simply can’t talk for fear of being “finished”, like a lamb being taken to a slaughter house. Surely is this how God expects us to live?



Let us be clear: the process against those who killed Jesus will never be opened; the sentence will not be revised. Jesus has already passed his final sentence: he has absolved his executioners and has saved them in the most glorious moment of his life: when, on the cross, he manifested his love in the highest degree. Will the other people receive a different sentence? Can there be a sin that is stronger than, and can resist, the love of Christ?



We are ending YEAR C and the liturgical cycle of three years with the image of Jesus forgiving everybody. My dear readers, this Jesus does not think and reason like us: he does not judge, he does not condemn, he does not discriminate, he does not weigh good and evil with the scales, he does not put up barriers between the upright and the wicked; he loves the upright and the wicked in the same measure and does allow anybody to get lost.



Let us keep this well in mind: the thoughts of God are not our thoughts, his ways are not ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9). If by reading these reflections have made you understand that the heart of God is different, very different from ours, then, I am sure, all the labour gone into writing them is more than worthwhile. Keep going out into the whole world to announce and proclaim the great news: the love of Christ is greater than our sins.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

THE GOD OF THE LIVING, NOT OF THE DEAD



I-2Mac 7:1-2.9-14; Ps 16:1.5-6.8.15 II-2Thes 2:16-3:5. III- Gospel 10:27-38


“A Christian, like a candle, must keep cool and burn at the same time” - M.Rosell


For a Sound and Healthy Living

There is an African proverb concerned on true poverty: “Because of poverty, the poor man sleeps alone in the house” Poverty entails, among other things, lack of domestic animals which constitute an essential part of the bride-wealth. A man who cannot afford bride-wealth will remain unmarried thus spending his nights and life alone. The proverb envisages the destitute condition of solitude in order to stimulate the poor out of his state of poverty and to prevent other people from falling into it.

“The wrinkled old woman, fragile and alone in her hospital room, seen with compassion, is my teacher. She is living lesson pertaining to the aging process each one of us must undergo in our singularity. That old gentleman in the park evokes compassionate seeing. He teaches me through his benevolent smile that life becomes increasingly uncomplicated as we near death. For each of us it is reduced to essential things, what makes us most sad or most happy” (Susan Muto).


“The main themes of Eucharist and the main themes of life itself are one and the same. The Eucharist is not concerned with realm of holy and sacred while the main part of our lives is secular and profane. Jesus’ Eucharist was not something he did only n the night before he died. It represented and reflected his entire life of self-giving. How could the Church celebrate each day only a few hours of Jesus’ life if this were not bound up with the rest?” Eucharist is Jesus’ memorial, the way of keeping alive and allowing us to share in his whole life” (Paul Bernier).



PSALM 16: TEST ME AS BY FIRE?



RESPONSORIAL Satiabor, cum evigilavera, conspectus tuo, Domine

PSALM R/ Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full



Lord, to my just complaint give ear; do not spurn my cry for aid. Listen to this prayer of mine; they are treacherous lips that make it. At thy judgment seat I claim award; unerring thy scrutiny. Wilt thou read my heart, drawing near in the darkness to test me as if by fire, thou wilt find no treachery in me. Never have these lips been led astray by man’s evil example; still to thy law’s pattern thy warnings kept me true; still in thy paths my steps were firmly planted, my feet did not stumble.
IT WOULD BE WELL for me to attempt to say this prayer daily. Lord, I could not be sincere in it without turning quickly to another psalm, Psalm 50: “have mercy on me Lord, and wipe away my guilt.” Are our lips not treacherous? Are they not disloyal to You, and that after all my solemn promises? Are they not treacherous to my neighbor, my friends, my brethren? When I am out “entertaining my “friends” or “sympathizing” with the pals in my clique, can I then pray with David, “Lord, read my heart; thou wilt find no treachery in me”?

Lord we all fail many times a day, but nowhere as much in charity. Yet you called charity the bond of perfection, the Christian commandment. On the most solemn occasion of your life, on the very night you yourself up for my sake, you said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love than this no one has, that he lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:12, 13). Lord how often have I turned that great commandment around, and have laid down the reputations of my friends for my own selfish ends! By so doing, I could never again say with the psalmist, “Lord, to my just complaint give ear” For how can I have a just complaint against anyone-I, who have betrayed my friends, I who have indeed found treachery enough on my lips?”

But you know very well, Lord, that this truth will not come to life in me, and that I will go on fomenting hateful thoughts against my neigbour whenever he displeases me; I will go on making critical remarks, all most religiously justified. My small jealousies and mean envies will be soil out of which my “virtuous” concern over the failings of others will mushroom, and the fungi will spread to my “friends” who listen to me, and we will all rejoice in the penetrating critical minds that benign Providence has granted us, and we will soon “thank God” in the secret corners of our hearts “that we are not like the rest of men” it is so much easier to condemn evil than to do good.

Let me at least remember the publican You praised, who knew he was indeed “like the rest of men” and whose most critical remark was, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” And as I beg You to pardon my wrongs. I will remember Your warning that we are pardoned in accordance with the forgiveness and pity we have for our neighbor “Forgive us…as we forgive those…”


“Don’t curse the darkness, light a candle” – Chinese proverb