Greetings,

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

This is the verse on my desk calendar for this coming Sunday, a verse that paints the image of Christ the victor leading us in the procession of ministry that we are called to, similar to the way a king might lead an army, a fitting verse for Reign of Christ (Christ the King) Sunday … the last of the Church year.

Reign of Christ Sunday is a fairly recent edition to the Church calendar, being instituted in by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to growing secularism and nationalism.  It is the day when people are invited to recall the vision of Christ as the one who is the authority in the world.

There are many voices in our society that compete loudly to gain our attention and have the last word.  They speak with authority, are self-promoting and persistent, having at agenda that does not always look out for the other. 

In contrast, as the King of love, Jesus lived a life that showed humanity that being a king was not just about rules and laws.  More importantly, it was about kindness, friendship and inclusion.  It was in this way that Jesus invited people to participate in the kingdom that he came to establish.

May each one of us strive to live in a way that shares the love of Christ with those we encounter, for surely our world that continues to need this love. Blessings – Heather.