Ezek. 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps. 23: 1-3, 5-6; 1 Cor. 15:20-26, 28; Mt. 25:31-46
Christ the King reigns in our lives, Viva Cristo Rey! “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Christ the King reigns in our world and lives in battle with the enemies of this world. Who are these enemies? They are the legion of “evil spirits that prowl about this world seeking the ruin of souls”. The most sinister is pride among the seven capital sins that include its generals of greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth leading the army of other deadly sins.
Christ the King has his own powerful army of angels led by St. Michael to instill in his people the weapons of virtue against each deadly spirit. The battle against greed is the virtuous weapon of charity, for wrath is patience, for envy is gratitude, for lust is chastity, for gluttony is temperance, for sloth is diligence, and for pride is the virtuous weapon of humility. The battlefield is in our souls and Christ the King is here to destroy the enemy. Christ has already won the battle against Satan that sought to destroy him now he comes after us and we are to prepare each day for the attack of temptations. Consider the week not only as a daily battle against the enemy but as a daily strategy of response to the attack.
Monday’s attack comes after the day of the Lord with the spirit of sloth bringing resistance to work. Diligence wins as we rise and accomplish our first task in making our beds ready. Beginning with the end in mind not only overcomes sloth but reminds us of the importance of being ready. Ready for a morning prayer to strengthen the soul we offer our work of the day in thanksgiving for the talents received to build up the kingdom of God.
Tuesday’s attack comes as a thief in the night with the surprise attack of wrath with the unexpected car that swerves in our way, delay in our plans, breakdown of communication and all the little things that matter. Patience wins when the enemy enters the heart in rejection of others claiming rights to justice in an unjust world. Wrath says “how dare you” but the spirit of patience comes to counter wrath with empathy in a search for understanding that dares to pray for our enemies.
Wednesday’s attack brings in focus the comparisons with others in envy as we get passed up on that promotion, recognition goes to someone else, see the rich get richer in the struggle to cover expenses. Envy is defeated when we view the hand of God at work to who much is given much is expected and we are grateful for our portion of expectations. Gratitude wins as we respond in appreciation for others gifts in support of their success, we unite to create a better world for the kingdom of God.
Thursday’s attack follows envy from behind with greed to forget others in a world seen as a “dog eat dog” world where only the strong survive and thrive while the weak are marginalized from society. Charity wins when begin to see Christ in the hungry, thirsty, naked, ill, imprisoned, and in the stranger. We resist greed when we recall the charity of Jesus with his words in the last supper on Holy Thursday as he breaks bread “do this in memory of me” as a self-sacrifice. Greed is the betrayal of Jesus who in charity offers up himself to God the Father and calls us to follow him in the same manner.
Friday’s attack looks to greed to permit the attack of lust with consent for entitlement to all the passions the mind can imagine having bought into the world’s doctrine of “my body my choice”. Chastity wins the battle as we recall the passion of Christ when the “good” of Good Friday was Jesus dying on the cross for the good of others in atonement for our sins. The power to say “no” to self and “yes” to the Lord conquers lust.
Saturday’s attack allows lust to open the door for gluttony once entitled there is no limit to the sins that follow to store up in our bellies and in our illusion of wealth. Gluttony is a slow death to the soul and must be met with an equal amount of daily temperance. Temperance wins in reminder of the Easter Vigil’s long wait for the coming of the Lord to keep all things in balance and be ready. Ready as the militant church on earth for the attack with the sword of Jesus’ word just as he spoke to Satan in his own temptations.
Sunday’s attack comes in for the kill with pride to be our own god, to be the beginning and the end of all our actions. Humility wins the against the final attack as we enter again into the resurrection day of Easter Sunday and claim victory for our souls in the resurrection of Christ. When we come in humility to receive Christ the King’s mercy in the Eucharist the battle is won where evil cannot exist in the souls of the just.
Our battle is won when faith takes action to counter evil and do good as Jesus promises “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age”. Faith is an incarnation of Jesus to do his will recognizing his presence in the poor, hungry, thirsty, naked, ill, imprisoned, and in the stranger. Faith alone is a lost sheep ready for slaughter by the evil spirits. By taking action faith is an invitation to Jesus to come into our lives and fulfill his work and be recognized in our presence.
Faith in action separates the sheep from the goats. It creates our identity through self-sacrifice, love of others, and service to each other. Doers of the word come together as sheep while goats simply talk a good talk and scatter apart. Faith in action creates an identity such as the difference between people who play an instrument and musicians, people who like to sing and a vocalist, people who have children and a parent, or someone who is an ordained a priest and a pastor.
Action forms faith in thanksgiving, in reparation, in redemption, in mercy, in love, in justice, in fellowship, and in unity with the one true God. Action builds up faith as a connection with God in the works of mercy. Be merciful and see Christ the King our good shepherd for the battle is won. Claim your victory, Christ the King lives “Viva Cristo Rey”.
Recent Comments