Kings or their equivalents have been around for a long time. Whether they ruled a village or empire, kings have shaped the history of human society by their ambition, their religious belief and even their occasional whim. Kings might be associated with the unbridled use of power or with exorbitant self–indulgence. A king might be correlated with excess. A “kingly ransom” is a huge sum of money. “Royal blue” is a rich, deep blue hue. “Fit for a king” is something beyond expectations in comfort or taste or amount. All of these things we have come to associate with our understanding of kingship.

If one looks at history, another picture presents itself. Yes, kings sometimes possess great wealth and power, control large properties and numbers of people. But rarely do they live in peace. In William Shakespeare’s Richard III, Richard bemoans the fate of kings, “How some have been deposed, some slain in war, some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed, Some poisoned by their wives, some sleeping killed—All murdered; for within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king, keeps Death his court.” For many, the crown proves an inescapable portal to suffering, both for the king and those around him. In this understanding of the title, it is a rather hopeless vocation to be king.

But there is a third type of king that is presented to us in Sacred Scripture, which carries a theme that is both powerful and hope-filled. The king in this sense is identified with the life and welfare of his subjects and land. The king is first in battle and last in retreat. The king goes without in lean years and celebrates plenty by sharing with his subjects. The king shepherds his people on a path that is true and lays down his life for the lives of his people. This is the kingship we celebrate in Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast in 1925 in the face of growing secularism and nationalism. In the turmoil of our current political picture, it is relevant for Catholics to remember our true leader and the model he set for all who would rule.

May the Peace of Christ the King reign in our hearts.

    A wedding reception is considered by most people as the epitome of grand celebrations. Anyone who has been involved in a wedding knows the incredible amount of planning and work that it entails. A site must be located, food tested, wedding garments tried on, seating plans ar- ranged, flowers chosen, bands/DJ’s interviewed; countless details decided and changed and rearranged. For better or worse, wedding celebrations are not just the expression of love between a man and woman but are representations of the families being joined in the union. The list of those who are to be invited to a wedding is incredibly difficult to produce. One’s response to a wedding invitation is a statement of approval, not just of the couple getting married, but of their respective families.
    Wedding customs are different when looked at over time and between cul- tures and religious backgrounds but the basic understanding of the union of two individuals does not change. The parable Jesus tells in to- day’s Gospel reflects his culture and society. Weddings were celebrations of the entire population of a village. Most of the people in a village would have been in the same tribal family. The idea that a person would not ac- cept an invitation would have been considered shameful. The idea that an invitation, some- thing usually reserved only to family, would be sent out to whomever was met on the “high roads” was equally shameful. But that is ex- actly what is happening in today’s Gospel.
    Next week, we will begin a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Parish. Over the years, we and those who have gone before us have responded one way or another to the invita- tion of the Lord to the feast of His Word and His Body and Blood. In this year, you will be invited to join in a special way in the work of our parish. The theme of our anniversary year is “A Pilgrim People Celebrating our Faith”. As we enter the celebration, let us remember that our pilgrimage is our re- sponse to the invitation that calls us into the banquet of the Kingdom.