Christ the King

I’ve always loved the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd.  Perhaps that’s why I’ve never related very well to the Feast of Christ the King that we celebrate the last Sunday of Ordinary Time before we enter the season of Advent.  So as I began this reflection, I found myself thinking about what I know about kings and about what kind of king Jesus is.

Having grown up in a democracy, I soon realized I know very little about kings except for superficial stereotypes gleaned from films and books in which they wear sumptuous attire, feast on rich foods, and rule their kingdoms with an iron hand.  None of this could I relate to Jesus.

Luckily, however, recently I happened to watch the remake of the classic Disney film, The Lion King, interested in how the original animated characters would be technologically transformed into realistic looking animals.  Besides affirming “the circle of life” as Simba eventually becomes king after the death of Mufasa, the story had a great deal to say about the nature of a true king as taught to Simba by his father.  Three qualities especially struck me:  a noble king gives more than he takes, protects his subjects, and is compassionate rather than self-serving. 

In thinking about giving more than taking, Jesus’ third temptation in the desert came to mind.  The Devil attempts to seduce Jesus by taking him to a high mountain to show him “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’”  (Mt. 4:8-9)  But Jesus cannot be tempted to take command of earthly kingdoms for as he later tells his disciples, “…what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” (Mt. 16:26)  Rather than grasping power, Jesus seeks to give through his ministry of teaching, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (Jn. 15:11)

Besides giving of himself to all whom Jesus encounters, he also seeks to protect them.  Nothing could be further from the actions of Simba’s treacherous uncle, Scar, who unlawfully becomes king by killing Mufasa, ravaging the Pride Lands, and dominating his subjects through fear.  Jesus, unlike the Pharisees who “…bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders” (Mt. 23:4), only wanted to help and protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Israel, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” (Mt. 23:37)

Lastly, Jesus, as a true king, is compassionate rather than self-serving.  The characters in Scripture whom Jesus treats with mercy and compassion are innumerable, but some come readily to mind:  the woman taken in adultery, the ten lepers, the woman with a hemorrhage, the centurion’s servant, Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son, and, in the gospel on the Feast of Christ the King, the good thief who asks, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power” to which Jesus  replies, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23:42-43)

By the end of this reflection, I found I had learned more about the nature of a true and noble king.  But, more happily, I came to realize that whether as the Good Shepherd or as Christ the King, Jesus continues to draw me to him in admiration and  deeper love as the most giving, protective, and tenderly compassionate Lord of my life.  

Reflection by Evelyn Pezzulich 

God will sustain us!

When Matthew Bensman, Holy Family’s Youth Faith Formation Minister, asked me to write about this week’s readings and to provide my own interpretation and reflection for other parishioners to read, I thought to myself, what an honor, I’d love to, I enjoy writing, this ought to be easy. Looking back at my initial thoughts, it’s not such an easy a task that I thought it would be.

That being said, I marvel at the amazing job that our parish priests and deacon provide for us each week by sharing with us their interpretations of the gospel and readings, they each make it look and sound so easy.  Their message about God’s word comes across so eloquently and they’re able to apply it to the modern times we live in.

I don’t profess to be an expert in the bible and its interpretations, so I did need some help in interpreting the Lord’s message.  Naturally we turn to the internet, and so that is just what I did.  Having done so, I stumbled across a website called workingpreacher.org.  After typing in Luke 21:5-19, I got many sites that popped up, but this one drew me in and appealed to me the most.

In the commentary regarding Luke 21 written by David Tiede an Emeritus Professor of the New Testament he sums it up in a nutshell in just one sentence, Jesus never promised it would be easy to follow him.  In the Gospel Reading it speaks of Jesus traveling to Jerusalem and on His travels He is alerting His followers to hardships ahead, beyond the time of His journey.

We all can relate to hardships in our lives, like those brought about by nature such as earthquakes, fires, hurricanes that we ourselves or family members may have suffered. Or, we might be able to relate to the hardships that may be accidental or intentional, such as the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce or those having to do with medical issues.  Whatever the hardship, Jesus reassures His followers that through it all He will be with us.  Professor Tiede reminds us that even the harsh prophecies of Luke 21 are filled with the confidence of Jesus' enduring presence.

Having faith in Jesus’ enduring presence isn’t always easy.  I recall an image of a photograph taken after 9/11 that has stuck with me for years.  The image is of steel beams in the shape of the crucifix standing in the rubble left behind after this devastating disaster.  If you have ever visited the 9/11 Memorial the crucifix was retrieved, and is now a part of the display in the memorial museum. 

It struck me that people who survived or family members who lost loved ones, probably felt abandoned and wondered why God let this terrible tragedy happen. How could He have abandoned them during this desperate time of need?  But God did not and still has not abandoned them. He has sustained them all for He had sent a sign in the form of a steel crucifix that His presence was there with them, and always will be.

 You are immediately reminded of the time Jesus Himself was crucified on the cross to save sinners, and yet at His most desperate time of need, He calls out to His Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46. In His humanity, Jesus teaches us that God will always be with us because He loves us. God never forsake His only Son, in fact in death He called His Spirit to return to be with His Father.

 Professor Teide continues by referencing David Livingstone, the legendary missionary to Africa, who once prayed, "Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me." And He testified, "What has sustained me is the promise, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."

Although at times it might not always be easy to follow the Lord, we must remember these powerful words during the most difficult of hardships that God loves us, He will be with us always, and He will sustain us, even to the end of the world.

 


Reflection by Maria Dyson

It was then that I carried you

A strong faith in the afterlife gives us strength to endure the difficulties and pain in the here and now.

Human existence is a combination of joy and sorrow, of happiness and struggle. We sing and dance at the birth of a baby. We cry and mourn at the passing of a loved one.

Knowing that Jesus walks beside us during our hours of hardship, and having faith that life everlasting awaits us, is what enables us to endure life’s most difficult times.

In this week’s Gospel reading according to Luke, some Sadducees set a trap for Jesus attempting to challenge his affirmation of an afterlife, as the Sadducees did not believe there was life after death. They posed a riddle for Jesus regarding whom a woman would be married to in heaven, if she had married a succession of seven brothers who had died one after another.

As always, Jesus thwarted His opponents with His wisdom and poise, proclaiming to them that those in heaven do not marry. Jesus informs them that in the coming age after the Resurrection of the dead, people no longer die for they are like angels and are children of God. Jesus strongly affirms that the dead will rise.

In the first reading from the Old Testament in the second book of Maccabees, seven faith filled Jewish brothers and their mother are arrested by the king, tortured and threaten with death, to force them eat pork in violation of God’s law. To the king’s amazement, each of the brothers were willing to accept torture rather than violate The Law, as they were put to death one by one.

As one brother attested, “you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.”

These brothers were good and faith filled men, and they were being punished unjustly. They didn’t deserve this agony. They didn’t deserve death. Yet it came to them anyway.

It was their faith in God and in the promise of life after death that gave them the strength and courage to endure the terrible punishment delivered to them.

And such it is with each of us. In life we all experience life’s joys and sorrows, and bad things happen to good people. Our faith in God will not prevent illness, accidents, and misfortune as we are all mortal men and women.

But it is that same faith and belief in the resurrection of our loved ones and ourselves, as promised by Jesus, that will give us the strength to endure life’s most difficult challenges.  We are not alone. Jesus and the Holy Spirit walk beside us to support and guide us when we need it most, until that day when the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.

Reflection by Don Larose