The end of a year

Here we are talking about the end of the year but I can hear people say but we have a month plus before year's end. However, for us as Christian our year ends today as we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Next week we begin a new cycle of prayer and scripture readings as we begin our new journey towards the incarnation and its celebration at Christmas and then on into the new secular year with all its joys and promises that are celebrated in an orgiastic outburst of old paganism when we see the new year in. So if today is for us our New Year's eve let us prepare for the next year by reflecting on some of the things that God has called us to this past year to help us celebrate God's Kingdom present in the world.

In looking around the world and indeed our communities over the last 12 months we need to consider what it is that we as Christians celebrate as Christians. Perhaps the writer to the Colossians puts it well  by reminding us what Christ has given to us and been to us (Col 1.11-20). In fact the writer goes on to indicate our separation from God before we came to Christ (Col 1.21-22). These are the things that the Church and our faith group are committed to and have received as we have turned to Christ. This is what should be our goal each year for our communities and our families. Not only should we be modelling this but actually putting it into practice not for ourselves but also for those around us and our extended community connections.  So the expectation is, if we are upholding the principle that guides us, that is love, we should be expecting a decreasing level of violence and an increasing level of cooperation within not only our church communities but also in the broader community.

Only by sacrificing our intentions and egos do we recognise Christ's kingship

Indeed that community support and pulling together that love and ability to care for those around us have indeed been on show. Not by a community that is based in faith although the members of the community have great faith (see this video). This community shows ideals that the faith community need to be expressing. In recent reading of Sci Fi/Fantasy a theme that comes up is the greater strength that is found as people cooperate and communicate with each other in acceptance of each individual and not their racial grouping or otherness. Another key mark of our experience as Christians living within our own communities.

The reality for the Christian faith group is not as pictured. Our year this last 12 months has not displayed in the public domain much of the Spirit of Christ so that we can truly celebrate Christ's lordship and rulership over us this day. I am sure that there are many who have achieved these goals and dare to celebrate this day with heads high as they celebrate their contribution to God's kingdom. Unfortunately, the public face is a devastation of the Christian love in action that should be expected. We have had continuing rejection of those who are different within our own faith community (Anglican) and within a country whose leader purports to hold to Christian values. In our smaller enclaves of religious fervour we undermine each other for the expectation of personal gains in power and authority not the meekness and love expected from those who follow Christ. Christ surrenders himself upon the cross whilst those around him exhibit the behaviours often seen within the Church today (Lk 23.35-36). In the coming year as we prepare ourselves towards the incarnation let us deeply reflect on our own attitudes as Christians in today's world and how we may sacrifice ourselves for our King.