Readings
Here I am, seated in my chair after a very long Sunday. My heart is filled with great joy for the big holiday celebrated today - Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe. I also just came from an ecumenical "Thanksgiving" Prayer service. Once again, I feel that I am totally immersed in the Kingdom and everything gives me an opportunity to worship the King. But, why, then, my heart still seems to skip a bit. Something doesn't sit well with me.
It could be that it is because I am still carrying with me the events of these past weeks - evil, once again, made itself known and visible. I am obviously shaken by the idea of their threats. But I am quite certain that what makes my heart sink has been seeing the reaction of so many "big shot" Christian leaders, preachers, etc. writing all sorts of things about ISIS and, especially, about the Syrian refugees: should we allow them to take refuge on our soil, or not? Becuase some of them are terrorist, should we punish them all? Not easy to find answers; especially those that make... Christian sense.
I read comments that people wrote about the Gospel and its demands to respond to the refugees crisis. One said that he can take the Gospel as long as his constitutional rights are not given up. What does that even mean? I was particularly hurt when I read one
article in particular, that used the parable of the Good Samaritan as a test case. And this is a Catholic author! (I even got a copy of this article in an email!) He claims that the parable justifies our action of not taking refugees into our homes but ... it's ok for us to help them... in some other ways.
He said that since the Samaritan didn't take the victim to his home but put him into a hotel then we don't have to open our homes to the refugees, but have to offer some aid. My goodness! How can anyone twist the words of Jesus to reach such a conclusion? The author forgot that it is a parable, and the point of the story is not where the Samaritan placed the victim but that he, who was supposed to be the "bad" guy, actually behave more like God. Also, the author forgot that in the parable the Samaritan was traveling. He could not bring the victim home; yet, it's remarkable that he took care of him by placing him in an inn and pay for him (without using humanitarian aids!). Jesus did not use the parable to teach us we need to put people who need help in a hotel. He taught us to be like God who cares for all people, and not to judge people according to where they come from. A lesson quite different from the one this author wants us to learn. The author forgot to place the parable within the larger context of the Gospel where Jesus ends up saying some strange things like: "Love your enemies," and "whatever you have done to the least of my brothers you have done it to me"
He also mentions the Maccabean revolt to justify physical violence. Unfortunately, the revolt has nothing to do with terrorism or refugees. The crisis started when the Jews began to deny who they were (they tried to cover the sign of their circumcision) and started to take on the values of the Greek.
Why does this upset me? Firstly, I really don't like it when the Gospel is used in this way. The Gospel is what I use to define my lifestyle. But I got upset because, as I was meditating on the relationship between Jesus and His Kingdom's citizens, I realized that we are betraying our call - we must value what the King values, we must do what the King does. And since this King told us that He came to serve and not to be served, it makes me wonder what are we waiting for? Why have we forgotten this?
What does the image of Jesus as King tell us today? We live in a country where our leaders are voted in, and should we not like them anymore, we can vote them out. When I see this complete reluctance of being like the King, I feel as though we are voting Him out and placing ourselves, or some of our ideas, on the throne.
When I think about the King and the Kingdom, I realize that a new type of Christianity has arisen. A type of Christianity that places Christ and His Gospel under the political agenda one can hold. Jesus, God and the Church must fulfill my expectations regardless of what the Gospel says and what the Church teaches. Should there be a conflict, it is because "they" are the opposite of me... and if things don't change, I can even change church (or at the least parish) until I find the one that agrees with my opinions. The Gospel's voice of radical discipleship is once again choked and the true power of the Living King is hidden behind the promise of salvation that doesn't require the Cross, but only the right political candidate.
I cannot buy into this type of Christianity, no matter how popular it may be; I must let the Gospel form and inform my mind and my conscience so that I can follow Christ and allow the Father to accomplish what He desires to do in Christ.
The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty. I pray that I will be more and more like the King, that I may make mine His values, rejoice in what makes Him rejoice and stay away from what He detests.
Robe me in your majesty, Lord, then; that I may pray "let your Kingdom come," and truly mean it!
How do I know that Jesus is the King? Is it because someone else told me? or is it because I experience Him as King? Honestly, it's not easy to give an answer. My belief began by believing someone else. But that belief now has become my own. When I live consciously the values of the King then I experience His rule. Considering that He establishes His Kingdom in love it is only in and through Love that I experience God alive in my heart.
