November 2014 Staff Meeting
Slide 1
Reader:
This week we stand at a transition point in the Liturgical year.
On Sunday, the last Sunday of our Liturgical year, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. Most of the time we skate over this day, somewhat preoccupied with Advent and Christmas coming quickly upon us—how can it be that we are here already! It’s also a Sunday with a theme that is challenging to figure out—we might even find ourselves thinking “Of course Christ is our King. We say it all the time.” And then we move on.
Slide 2
Reader:
Here are a few thoughts on this Feast:
Consider the type of king Jesus is…because his realm is clearly one that turns the status quo upside down! What would it be like if Jesus were the king of creation and our secular leaders were not?
It might look like this:
Forgiveness rather than judgement is the cornerstone of this new world, compassion is our new language…
The elevation and honoring of those most often forgotten or abused…the poor, the elderly, the sick…
A commitment to humble service as the new expression of power…
And finally, Christ’s parables and radically open table fellowship give expression and form to this society that is always in the world but not part of it.
Slide 3
Reader
It is interesting that this feast day was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI as a bold challenge to the rise of fascism in Europe. At the core of this feast is not secular prestige or economic power but authentic love and a willingness to share the joys and sorrows of life in community.
Slide 4
As we move through this week into Advent with a few new thoughts as to what it truly means to be Jesus’ kind of King, we can also look to Mary, Queen of Heaven as we call her, to see the embodiment of this way of life.
(If you are able to access the internet, the following version of John Michael Talbot’s Holy is His Name is perfect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ppi7AuhyLM
Reader:
Please join me as ask Mary our Mother to intercede for us, that we might bring open hearts into this season of joyful anticipation:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, prayer of us sinners, now and at the hour of death.
Amen.
Adapted from: http://rj-whenlovecomestotown.blogspot.ca/2009/11/anticipating-christ-king-sunday.html