On this beautiful Sunday morning we are celebrating the final Sunday of the liturgical calendar with the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe! Simply known as the Feast of Christ the King, it could not have come at a better time. For me this last couple of weeks have really driven home how much I am not in charge. This is difficult for me because apparently, I like being in charge, or at least very organized. I like my world ordered. Interruptions and distractions seem to knock me off kilter. Kind of an odd admission when as a Permanent Deacon things change constantly and we need to remember one of the cardinal rules of diaconate formation: be flexible.
In the last two weeks my wife and I have had her mom staying with us as she battles difficult issues related to her heart. Tomorrow morning she will be having a medical procedure at the local heart hospital. If that not be bad enough, my wife, trying valiantly to care for her mother, was diagnosed with another blockage in the iliac arteries. Just like what happened to her in February, she is now facing angiogram and stents on Tuesday in the same hospital her mom will be in. This should make for a difficult thanksgiving week. Add to this medical drama I am reminded that Wendy is entering her 6th month of unemployment as I watch her struggle with a situation she has never had to confront in all of her adult life. To say the least, it's a little more difficult to feel in charge of anything these days.
Not nearly at the same level of urgency I watched with horror yesterday some of the political results here at home on election day. Suffice it to say my candidates in two key elections were defeated and one being a local friend was kind of hard to take. And if that was not enough for a gloomy Saturday, what about the third egg laid in a row by my beloved LSU Tigers.
Hey Mike, you are not in charge. Hey, Mike, sometimes you worry about the stupidest things. Hey, Mike, you preach perseverance to others when things get tough. You know, the never give up talk, the Jesus is in control talk, the keep hold to your faith in tough times talk. So Deacon, walk the walk buddy.
In preparing for this great Solemnity where we honor Christ as the King of the Universe and the King of our lives, I was reminded over and over again that we were never designed to be in control. Our Lord Jesus is the One, the only One to turn to for that control we seek. We not only need to allow Jesus to be King of our lives, we need to allow Him to reign supreme in all our coming in and going out. We are the ones who must turn to the King in both joys and trials. We must trust Jesus Christ even when we can't figure things out.
I am thankful that this Solemnity came along when it did; I needed the reminders that came along with this day. With Christ the King of my universe, I can cope!
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