Christ is King
Dear Companions, on the Solemnity of Christ the King:
Is Jesus Christ the Lord of my life, every aspect of my life? Our response could easily be, I desire this level of following, belonging to the One I love, but it is an honest struggle. The call of the Gospel is so real and alive, and my heart is so easily divided with my distractions and way to be looking somewhere else for my happiness. When push comes to shove, I know Christ is to be the King of my life.
Recently, I was reading an article on St. Thomas More and the author stated: “Thomas had the Beatitude of purity of heart - he loved Henry and his country, but he loved God more.” And another quote: “In his poverty of spirit and thirst for righteousness, he prioritized trust in God over reliance on secular power and influence.”
Such a gift, these saints that offer us an example of conviction not to love things, power or whatever more than God. Clearly, it is the reason we are encouraged to know their “yes” and how they followed Christ with such conviction. I always encourage people to have some friends, companions in the communion of Saints, to know their story and prayer through their intersession and walk with them in loving Christ more than the many superficial things in our midst. Another quote from the article: “Thomas hungered for righteousness, which impressed Henry VIII - who at one time had won the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ from People Leo X. However, Henry resembled the seed that fell on rocky ground, ‘the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away’. Henry lacked the self-control needed to pursue love of God over love of self like More did.”
Christ is the King, and as we hear in the Preface of the Mass, of an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. Our call to trust God and walk with certainty in the beauty of the providence of God here and now. “When Henry resorted to threats on More’s life for treason, his friends and family tried to persuade him to find a way to modestly compromise to continue all the other good work he did. Thomas stood firm. Everything for which he was respected in the kingdom of England came from his primary loyalty to Christ and the kingdom of heaven. Thomas considered himself blessed to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
We beg for each other to hang on to the inner integrity by keeping our hearts and minds loyal to Christ the King, recognizing that we are sinners and walk with our own confusion at times in seeking other gods. Thanksgiving is a grace filled time to acknowledge that all is given by the grace of God, and we need not play god in a shallow way.
Every blessing for this beautiful season of Advent.