Christ the King
"Sloughing Towards Galilee!
Christians/Catholic Workers Gone Bad!"
Christ the King, November 24, 2024
John 18-33-37: "So Pilate went back into the governor's residence, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews.. . .Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.. . "
This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday when we celebrate the sovereignty of Jesus. This is an important date in my life because it was on this day many years ago I preached my final sermon in a mainline denomination, to be removed for being "gay" the next day. I knew what the next day would bring, so this was a gut-wrenching sermon.
Through that gut-wrenching experience, of losing all that I knew, finding myself on the streets, working as a sex worker, and finally coming back, I found that Jesus was truly King, working within my life. Life is difficult, Jesus promises to be with us, and that is where he becomes Christ the King, and calls us together in support of one another, regardless of what, or who we believe in, for one of my favorite quotes reminds us:
"On the storm-tossed sea of life all we have is our fierce commitment to one another."
I believe with all of my heart, I have staked my life on our ability to be present to one another, especially the vulnerable in our midst.
Dr. Tony Campolo summarizes this in the following words:
"Jesus never says to the poor come find the Church. But he says to those of us in the Church, "Go into the world, and find the poor, hungry homeless, and imprisoned."
The "Church," the body of Christ, is anyone who brings the Kingdom of the one God, of caring and loving everyone, into the world. Jesus is not a King bringing political power but one embracing all.
Matthew 25:31-46
New English Translation
The Judgment
31 “When[a] the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All[b] the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He[c] will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him,[d] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When[e] did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When[f] did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the king will answer them,[g] ‘I tell you the truth,[h] just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters[i] of mine, you did it for me.’
41 “Then he will say[j] to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will answer,[k] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ 45 Then he will answer them,[l] ‘I tell you the truth,[m] just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”[n]
Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
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May the work of
“figuring people out”
Never replace the work of knowing people
And loving people
And giving them room
To confound
And inspire
And surprise me
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FOR FOOD, SOCKS, HARM REDUCTION AND OTHER SERVICES!
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(Temenos and Dr. River seek to remain accessible to everyone. We do not endorse particular causes, political parties, or candidates, or take part in public controversies, whether religious, political, or social--Our pastoral ministry is to everyone!
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Temenos Catholic Worker
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
Dr. River Damien Carlos Sims, D.Min, D.S.T.
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“People ask me why do you write about food,
and eating and drinking. Why don’t you write
about the struggle for power and security, and
about love, the way others do? The easiest answer
is to say that, like most other humans I am hungry (M.F. Fisher!”
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"Christians/Catholic Workers Gone Bad!"
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I am addressing Christmas cards for snail mail if you would like one please send me your snail mail if I do not have it!
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Demonstration at City Hall
November 27, 2024
Noon!
"Homeless People Are Children of God!"