Christ the King

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King; the final Sunday of the liturgical year. 

A few weeks ago I described this day as a hinge connecting the last Sundays of ordinary time with the coming liturgical year. 

(You can find all past articles at brucemauro1.blogspot.com.)

Today, I'd like to speak a little more about the idea of the church or liturgical year.  As in the calendar year we travel somewhat cyclically in that we  revisit various days and seasons.  The difference is that in the church year we also journey outward moving closer to the fulfillment of God's kingdom.  If you're a visual learner; the calendar year would be a circle and the church year a spiral.  

As we get ready (God willing) to  take another trip around this spiral, may we:

*  Look at the past with gratitude

Let us be grateful even for our struggles as they have helped create the person we are today.

*  Look at our present with gratitude.     

Eckhart Tolle writes "Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance."

* Look towards the future with gratitude

Jesus tells the repentant thief that he will be with Him in paradise.  Let us be grateful that we have a God who looks at us through the eyes of mercy.

See you around in the new year,

Bruce

PS

I am grateful to have spent this past year and the coming year serving at St. Mary's.