WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR Are we ready to run from any idea of Christ wearing gold and sitting on a throne? In order to follow the footsteps of King Jesus, are we eager to walk with the persecuted and outcast?
By: Mike Van Vranken, Spiritual Director
Photo Credit: Still from The Passion of the Christ Movie, Google Images
IN THE MOVIE Brother Sun, Sister Moon, there is a (Matthew 26:52). Maybe they realized we couldn’t resist dramatic scene where priests dressed in jewel adorned a king who would make us number 1, rather than being vestments are incensing a life-sized crucifix with Christ’s last (Matthew 20:16). body covered in a golden stole, and whose head is I have had a love relationship with the Feast of Christ overlayed with the gold and glittery crown of an earthly the King for forty years. Yet, I also king. Looking on are the poor and know that Francis of Assisi could not lame and sick of the city, gazing at an imagine Christ in any way other than image of Christ they have no way of meek and humble of heart (Mt. 11:29). relating to. For this is human royalty He saw the true image of Christ eating with all of its wealth and power, who with the outcast and healing them of never walks with the lowly, sick, their illnesses. This month, can we troubled and outcast. The scene is imagine in prayer the upside-down so troubling to Francis, he cries out kingdom where Christ is our king? “NO” and runs from the church. It is obvious that the well dressed and Picture our kingdom where the pious clerics had forgotten what citizens are poor financially and poor in Francis knew all too well: Christ’s spirit (Mt. 5:3; Luke 6:20). Is this really kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). the kingdom we choose to live in? How does this image make you feel? Ask Maybe that’s why it took the God for his perspective on this. Church until 1925 to declare a Feast of Christ the King; In Christ’s kingdom it is those who mourn and weep for fear we would put Jesus on a white horse instead of a donkey (Matthew 21:5). Perhaps we would insert a who are laughing and comforted (Mt. 5:4; Luke 6:21). sword in his hand although he specifically forbade its use Here, in order to receive anything, we have to give it away 18 THE CATHOLIC CONNECTION
