Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 5th Sunday of Easter.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The seventh article of the Apostle’s Creed is “From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.” There are three (3) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 680.
When you and I submit our lives to Christ’s call to holiness in His Church, Christ reigns over us. The King of the Universe is also the King and center of our lives, our homes, our places of employment and entertainment. The Church is the Kingdom of God on Earth (cf. Lumen Gentium, 3). Like any earthly kingdom the Church has territories (Parishes, Dioceses, Provinces) and laws (canonical and liturgical) and officials (clergy and religious) and citizens (all the baptized).
As it is, however, not all things of this world are submitted to the meek and humble Christ the King whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light (cf. Matthew 11:29). Until the evening news or newspapers only have to report birthdays and anniversaries we will be reminded of how things are not yet entirely submitted to Christ the Lord. Our sins against God, our neighbor(s) and ourselves (cf. Matthew 22:37-40) and the sins of our neighbors show us how much work there is to be done in order to build up the Christ’s Kingdom here one Earth as it is in Heaven (cf. Matthew 6:10).
Even until Christ our King returns again in glory (cf. John 14:3; Acts 1:9-11) to judge the living and the dead (cf. John 5:22; 8:26) the powers of evil assault His Kingdom. This assailed is primarily realized by sin. Sadly enough, each time any of us sin we attack Christ and His Kingdom (cf. Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23). Each time we repent and confess our post-baptismal sins, however, we allow ourselves to be renewed and the Church is strengthened to resist the assaults of the devil, by God’s grace in us. There are assaults upon the Church from without as well. The anti-clerical laws enacted in some countries disallowing the Church the right to own property, or for clerics and religious to use their distinctive garb or to vote are assaults upon the Kingdom of Christ. Sadly, some places disregard the right of the Bishop of Rome to appoint bishops.
This is how the Kingdom of Christ will ultimately triumph: when we renounce our sins and sin no more by God’s grace (cf. Mark 1:15; John 5:14; 8:11). The victory belongs to Christ and His Saints. While Good Friday did not look all that victorious, we know by faith that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (cf. Acts 10:40). This is Christ’s victory over sin and death, the Cross and the grave. On the last day, when the trumpet sounds Christ our King will triumph and exercise His dominion (cf. Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 11:15).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr