Daily Retreat 11/22/06
2006 Nov 22 Wed: Cecilia, v, mt M
Rv 4: 1-11/ Ps 150: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 19: 11-28
>From today’s readings: “Worthy are You, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; because of Your will they came to be and were created.... Praise the LORD in His sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His strength.... When he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading.”
Attitudes toward the King
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King. The parable presented in Chapter Nineteen of Luke’s Gospel considers three attitudes toward Christ’s Kingdom: those who totally oppose His dominion, those who shirk their own responsibilities arising from His rule, and those who faithfully fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by Christ.
In the end, those who fight and protest against the kingship of Christ find themselves on the losing side. This holds not just for atheists and those who reject Christ completely, but also for all those who, even if content to give Jesus lip service, are actually so bent on doing their own will that they effectively rebel against the rule of Christ in their lives. In our sinfulness, we are all in this category at times.
In the end, those who shirk their God-given responsibilities find themselves totally divested of the rewards of the Kingdom, as did the wicked, lazy servant. This holds not just for those nominal Christians who basically do nothing to invest in their faith, but also for all those who are negligent in zealously cultivating the just fruits of their living faith. In our sloth, we are all in this category at times.
In the end, those who faithfully hearken to the Lord’s teachings and commands find themselves rewarded with more than they could even imagine, as did the diligent, industrious servants who were promoted to governors in the Gospel parable. This holds not just for those saintly disciples who are able to give the Lord a most prodigious return (like the servant who realized a tenfold profit), but also for all those who demonstrate true but imperfect effort (like the servant who only made half as much). In our lived faith commitment, we strive, with the Lord’s help, to reach this category!
Rv 4: 1-11/ Ps 150: 1b-2. 3-4. 5-6/ Lk 19: 11-28
>From today’s readings: “Worthy are You, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; because of Your will they came to be and were created.... Praise the LORD in His sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His strength.... When he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading.”
Attitudes toward the King
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King. The parable presented in Chapter Nineteen of Luke’s Gospel considers three attitudes toward Christ’s Kingdom: those who totally oppose His dominion, those who shirk their own responsibilities arising from His rule, and those who faithfully fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by Christ.
In the end, those who fight and protest against the kingship of Christ find themselves on the losing side. This holds not just for atheists and those who reject Christ completely, but also for all those who, even if content to give Jesus lip service, are actually so bent on doing their own will that they effectively rebel against the rule of Christ in their lives. In our sinfulness, we are all in this category at times.
In the end, those who shirk their God-given responsibilities find themselves totally divested of the rewards of the Kingdom, as did the wicked, lazy servant. This holds not just for those nominal Christians who basically do nothing to invest in their faith, but also for all those who are negligent in zealously cultivating the just fruits of their living faith. In our sloth, we are all in this category at times.
In the end, those who faithfully hearken to the Lord’s teachings and commands find themselves rewarded with more than they could even imagine, as did the diligent, industrious servants who were promoted to governors in the Gospel parable. This holds not just for those saintly disciples who are able to give the Lord a most prodigious return (like the servant who realized a tenfold profit), but also for all those who demonstrate true but imperfect effort (like the servant who only made half as much). In our lived faith commitment, we strive, with the Lord’s help, to reach this category!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/22/2006
<< Home