By Fr Allen
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26 Nov, 2023
The Church, throughout the year, celebrates God’s actions in human history. We see God in the very creation of the universe, the world around us, and the material gifts we enjoy. Even when human beings turned away from our relationship with God to seek our own self-interest in material things God did not abandon us. We see that in the covenants and prophets of the Old Testament and, most especially, the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The annunciation by the angel Gabriel that the Blessed Virgin Mary would be the mother of the savior initiates the Kingdom of God, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). The last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Sunday before the beginning of Advent, we celebrate the feast of Christ, King of the Universe. This is not government as experienced in human history. The pervasive discord and conflict we experience, globally and personally, is why Christ came into the world. Christ is here as the shepherd God promised through the prophets of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel gives us a vivid image of the mission of Christ the King as shepherd, “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back.” (34:15 – 16). Because Christ is present to us in each of the sacraments1 the prayers they contain are inspired by the Holy Spirit2 . The Eucharistic Prayer is the central part of the Mass, where Christ, breaking through time and eternity, comes among us. In the Mass for Christ the King the Eucharistic Prayer describes God’s kingdom, “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” By our baptism we are made citizens of the Kingdom of God. After our baptism we were anointed by God the Father, “with the Chrism of salvation, so that you may remain as a member of Christ, Priest, Prophet and King.3 ” An important question is, “if Christ has initiated the Kingdom of God, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?” The answer is that you and I have work to do. As Christians we have an obligation as fellow workers with Christ in building the Kingdom of God. The great challenge for humanity is division. At the Last Supper, as Christ established His enduring presence in the world, He prayed for unity, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20 – 21). Our ability to be agents of unity, and peace, to those around us flows from our unity with Christ and His Church. The teaching and prayer of the Church calls us to, “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:1 – 5). As we take up Christ’s prayer for unity, we need to take Christ’s motto as our own, “The son of man came not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45). Whenever we help those in need we serve God, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). This is the image of God that all human beings carry. This is the foundation of our unity with each other and with God. We may not influence world events, but our lives can make a difference. Christ is here to help us and speaks to us to guide us. Our world desperately needs the kingdom of God, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace. By our participation in the life of the Church we celebrate our citizenship in that kingdom. We must remember that we are also coworkers with Christ and have a responsibility to help build that kingdom.