Dear Parishioners:
This Sunday's feast may seem to many to be out of date. We in America have a built in societal aversion to the idea of royalty. We are so convinced that democracy is the only way that we rile against the idea of submission, non-consultative decisions.
That is not to say we don't enjoy reading about the rich and famous. We seem to delight in royal watching, but we're very careful not to get too involved with this idea of divine right for the royal families. But on the whole we are convinced that democracy is the only way to go. Our legal system is the worst in the world until you consider all the others. Our representative democracy seems to work, not without setbacks, but it works. We have such a successful country that many would like to see the Church run the same way.
But Jesus did not come to establish a human kingdom. He came to establish His Church, His kingdom, His love, peace, and justice. He did not intend for His Church to be a reflection of modern society. Rather, He wanted His people to stand as a sign of contradiction to the world.
To stand in contradiction, in opposition to the world is to stand in the light of truth. There is much we can learn from the world. There are principles of government and administration which can aid in the work of the Church. Always remember that any truth is a work of the Holy Spirit.
The Church is part of the kingdom of God with Christ Jesus as the head. He has established not a democracy, but a hierarchy in this part of the kingdom. For example, He gave to Peter and his successors the grace filled power to teach without error.
In his Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Cardinal Newman writes,"Supposing it is the will of the Creator to interfere in human affairs, and to make provisions for retaining in the world a knowledge of Himself, so definite and distinct as to be proof against the energy of human skepticism; in such a case, there is nothing to surprise my mind, if He should think fit to introduce a power into the world, invested with the prerogative of infallibility in religious matters. Such a provision would be a direct, immediate, active, and prompt means of withstanding the difficulty; it would be an instrument suited to the need; and when I find this to be the very claim of the Catholic Church, not only do I feel no difficulty in admitting the idea, but there is a fitness in it, which recommends it to my mind."
Our King can and does do such things because He loves us and wills for us to know and follow the true path to the fullness of the kingdom. He is King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace, Ruler of everything.
Let us pledge to make Him our King in everything, in our time, talent, and treasure. Let us not hold back any part of our lives. It is better to be His servant, His friend, than to be king of this world or the under.
His kingdom is the only kingdom of true peace, true love, true justice. Only when He is our King will we experience these very fruits.
God bless,
Fr. Bill
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