Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
I
needed to drop off my computer for some repairs
at
the Apple Store in Syracuse.
It’s located in Destiny USA:
a six-story shopping mall,
It’s located in Destiny USA:
a six-story shopping mall,
with
more than 200 stores, restaurants, and attractions—
the
largest in New York State,
and the sixth largest in the country.
It’s
huge
(I used a map to find my way around)
(I used a map to find my way around)
and,
even early on a Monday morning,
My
very next stop was the Trappist monastery
where
I’d be making my retreat:
home
to 28 monks who’ve dedicated themselves
to
quiet prayer, hard work, and simple living
among
some woodlands and farm fields
not
far outside of Geneseo.
The
contrast couldn’t have been much more dramatic.
I
had only driven a couple of hours from one to the other,
but
I’d passed between two completely
different worlds.
One
of the monks—Fr. Eugene—
preached
a very thought provoking homily
while
I was at the abbey.
He
related that, in sociology, they speak about “going native,”
when
somebody gets too involved in the community he’s studying
and
moves from being an “outsider” to an “insider.”
Fr.
Eugene didn’t then go on to describe
some
exotic tribe living on a far-distant island;
instead,
he used this “going native”
to
discuss the Church’s rightful place in the world.
He
pointed out that we Christians
are
actually “outsiders” in this world;
we’re
citizens of a different Kingdom.
And
when the Church has gotten herself in trouble in ages past,
it’s
generally been because she’s become too much of an “insider, “
taking
on too many characteristics of worldly culture—
grasping
for money or prestige or power;
in
other words, she’s “gone native.”
Those
who have worked for reform in the Church at those times
did
so by calling her back to the simplicity of her beginnings—
to become
an “outsider” again.
Fr.
Eugene wrapped up by pointing out—rather astutely—
that
this situation seems
to
have been turned around 180 degrees in recent years.
When
we hear voices
calling
for “reform” or changes in the Church today,
they’re
generally calling for her to become
more like the surrounding world,
not less.
Especially
here, not far from the border,
we’re
rather accustomed to folks
who
have dual national citizenship.
That,
of course, can happen
between
two countries that are at peace.
Many
Christians, likewise, live their lives
as
if they hold dual citizenship between this fallen world
and
the Kingdom of God—
as
if you could keep one foot in each…
…but
that is not a viable possibility.
That’s
because we’re dealing with two realms
locked
in long and bitter conflict,
and
if you don’t believe they’re at odds,
you
have only to look at the Cross and see
what
the powers at work on earth once did to the King of heaven.
Sometimes
the contrast between them is startlingly obvious—
like
leaving the mall for the monastery.
But
most often, it’s pretty subtle—
or
at least escapes our notice.
Which
kingdom holds sway in my life?
Which
is the king to whom I’ve made myself subject?
Since
it must be one or the other, a quick test is to ask,
“Do
I most wish that the Church would ‘get with it’
and
become more like the rest of the world?
Or do
I work and pray that the world would respond to the truth
and
become more and more like the Church
has
always said it could be?”
“My
kingdom,” says King Jesus, “does not belong to this world.”
And
yet we know that the Son of God
is
not at all aloof from this world’s suffering and sadness;
in
fact, wearing a crown of thorns rather than gold,
he
could have hardly entered into it more completely.
Christ’s
victory is won and his dominion established,
not
by any earthly force or success,
but
through a love that’s stronger even than death.
While
his kingship is from above,
it has
the power to transform this world from the inside.
Jesus
Christ lived, died, and rose again thoroughly in the world
while
never being of the world.
Those
who acknowledge—in both word and deed—
that
Christ is their true King,
like
him do not belong to this world (cf. Jn 17:16).
With
him, we too can be agents
for
this world’s transformation from within…
…but
only if we remain
“outsiders.”
You’re
a subject of the eternal King!
You’re
a citizen of his heavenly Kingdom!
Resist every temptation to "go native."
Resist every temptation to "go native."
No comments:
Post a Comment