Sunday, November 20, 2011

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46
We eagerly bow down today before the King of Judgment. But is this king truly our Parent or our Brother, or is it a fantasy of our own creation? It is understandable why we would desire such a king. Life here is cruel, unfair, and unjust much of the time. When faced with this reality on a daily basis, who wouldn't long for a savior to make it all better, if not in this life then surely in the next. But again, is this the reality of our Parent's Creation or is it the fantasy to help us get through one more day of suffering? The easy answer is that Jesus said it, so it must be true. But he also said, "Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place." Why do we take him at his word for some things, but not others? Perhaps Jesus told us what we wanted to hear. Maybe we only listened to what we wanted to hear. It's even possible that Jesus just got it wrong; he was human after all. Whatever the case, eternal life is not a reward or punishment, but a birthright given to us by our Parent. It is given to all, for we are all our Parent's beloved children. It is our immaturity that drives us to believe that only some of our brothers and sisters are worthy of such a gift, and that conditions must be attached to it to ensure that people behave properly. Enough of this! It is time for us to grow up.