Christ the King

Sr. Phyllis Jaszkowiak
November 21, 2021

Today we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  The title King doesn’t do much for me for I never knew a king or royalty.  Perhaps a better title might be, Jesus Christ, Servant of the Universe.
 
When Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and tempted, he rejected power or kingship, any type of domination, wealth and fame.  Jesus never wanted to be king.  He usually went away when people wanted to make him king.  The only time he let himself be taken as king is when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey – not a very kingly sight.

​At the Last Supper Jesus wanted his followers, his disciples, to understand two things: servanthood and communion.  One: we are to be servants to each other.  He showed what he meant by washing their feet. Two: Jesus wanted us to stand with each other – to be a community.  It is these two things – service and communion -that are most important in following Jesus.
 
We, here in our parish, seek to serve others through our actions for social justice, climate integrity, through SVDP, through our service to the homebound and elderly, and in the many ways we help our neighbors and our families grow in helping others.
 
We, also try to be in communion with each other – be a community – as we listen and talk to each other, invite people to sit with us, listen to people from the many different cultures and learn of their struggles to be part of the United States, and let them teach us the many different ways to celebrate and become one with each other.
 
I heard a story the other day from one of our Sisters who volunteers at Rose Haven, a place for women to come in during the day and get off the streets.  One of the women finally got off the streets and into her own apartment.  After four months or so she is lonely being by herself.  On the streets she had community and wonders if she should move back to the streets to be in community.
 
Community is important.  Just think back over the last two years and how we missed coming together, to reconnect face-to-face, and the delight we felt when at last we could come and gather – even with masks.  Being on zoom helped fill in some of the feeling of community, but we need, as human beings, to be with, to be in communion, with each other.
 
It may be why Jesus didn’t want to be king, he would lose community, lose being equal with others, being in communion with others.
 
So as we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, let us remember we celebrate service and community.