Saint Martin's Cloak

How ancient does something have to be to be a tradition? Christ the King Sunday is one of my favorite festivals of the Christian year. Its vision of Christ’s reign, both now and in the age to come, can bring me to tears. How strange it was to find that it is not an ancient observance. Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the King in 1925, at least in part to thumb his nose at Mussolini, who assumed dictatorial powers that year. The pope wanted to remind Christians that Christ is king over all the kings of this world. The Christian’s first allegiance is to God and his kingdom, not to any ruler or nation on earth. The kings of the earth, are in fact, subject to Christ. And now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know the rest of the story.

In the United States, Veterans Day fell on a Sunday this year. As they do every year, the citizens of the United States honored Veterans with parades and ceremonies and concerts and pats on the back. Restaurants offered free meals and stores offered discounts to those who have worn the nation's uniform. "Thank you for your service." I heard the words more than once today. Americans consistently (and rightfully) rank the military as one of the most trusted and respected institutions in the country. It's easy to get a big head. Everyone (well, most everyone) loves a man or woman in uniform. But Veterans Day fell on a Sunday this year, and those who belong to the people of God gather on this day to remember the one who died for their sins in accordance with the scriptures, who on the third day rose again from the dead and who will come again to judge the living and the dead. Even if you are surrounded (as we are in military chapels) with patriotic emblems and banners...

Christians in the United States and other participatory democracies have the opportunity to influence the governance of their communities for good. Voting for public officials is one way in which Christians can love their neighbors and "seek the shalom of the city" (Jer 29:7) where God has planted us, while we wait for "the eternal city that God has planned and built." (Heb 11:10). Here are a few thoughts about the civic environment (and these are purely purely personal reflections), <!-- wp:more --> <!--more--> <!-- /wp:more --> Voting is not your civic duty. Informed, responsible voting is your civic duty. If you don't have a clue, don't vote. Voting is not the totality of your civic duty; it's only a tiny slice of your civic duty. Being a good person, a good family member, a good neighbor and a good employee are all much more important. You owe your community more than the 15 minutes it takes to stand in line and vote. ...