Wow! Has it really been September since I last visited this site? It's hard to believe that time goes by so very quickly! And yet it does.
On Sunday last we celebrated the final Sunday in the church year - Christ the King - and we remember that Christ's Kingdom isn't of this world: "Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus and asked him, 'Are you the king of the Judeans?' Jesus replied, "Do you ask me this on your own, or did others tell you about me?...My kingdom is not from this world, If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Judeans. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Jesus' kingdom is not and never was a political one...it's much more than that ever could be! Jesus is both ruler of our hearts and our souls in this world and He is the King of the world to come!
And it's a funny thing about Kings...they generally have subjects. Isn't it wonderful that we are subjects of our Lord Christ from the day of our Baptism to the day of our new birth into the Heavenly Kingdom! And it's a funny thing about Kings...they want loyalty...they want their subjects to listen to what they have to say and act on it.
So how can we show the world that we are Jesus' very own subjects? His very own brothers and sisters? God's very own children? Well, it's simple to state...and it isn't so simple to do. We are to love God with all our hearts and all our minds, and our neighbors as ourselves. A tall order...thank God that Christ, our King, isn't the remote sort as most human kings are. Thank God that Christ, our King, came down from heaven to meet us in the form of a little baby, born in Bethlehem!
Which brings up something else...thank God that Advent - the start of the Christian year and calendar - begins next Sunday (December 3, 2006)...and thank God he gives us this time to prepare for Jesus' Incarnation - His arrival among us...not only as King, but as Savior!