Dear Friends,
This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year, and we celebrate with thanksgiving, confidence and hope the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. We proclaim that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the measure of all value in the world, and that his way takes us close to the heart and will of God. Remember that the sovereignty that Christ wields, and which we honour today, is not of the domineering, power-over-others kind. Rather it is the compelling power of someone whose integrity in weakness lures us into following him.
Henri Nouwen notes that ‘Jesus chose powerlessness over power, vulnerability over defensiveness, dependence over self-sufficiency’. By doing this he chose a way that is open to community and relationship, rather than to competition and isolation. Because Jesus Christ is ‘king’, and his way assured and authoritative for us, we who are his people can be free and daring and secure in walking in his way.
This morning we conclude the Sung Mass with the customary procession of the Blessed Sacrament, which today will be carried in the monstrance rather than in the wakahuia. For a number of years we have combined this feast of Christ the King, or the Reign of Christ, with a celebration of the founding of the Bishopric of Aotearoa (Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa) and our partnership as peoples together in this land. We have decided to shift this aspect of the celebration to 8 February, the Sunday nearest Waitangi Day. Then we can more appropriately make this a special occasion.
Next Sunday the season of Advent begins the new liturgical year. During this year the Gospel of Mark will be read at most Sunday Masses. As always on Advent Sunday evening, the choir will lead us in the strong and lovely service of Advent carols and readings. Please make the effort to come and to bring others along.
The daily readings for Advent, which we shall list in the Trumpet so that you will all be able to read them yourselves, take us into a spirit of quiet and joyful expectation. Try and read them day by day this year and I am sure you will be ready to enjoy Christmas all the more.
In today’s Gospel Jesus makes it clear that we are to serve others and to share what we have with those in need. ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ And so during Advent we shall be supporting the Christmas preparations of the City Mission, and learning more about the work of CWS and how through the Christmas Appeal we can help people build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Please pray for those to be ordained by the Bishop next Saturday at 10:00 am in the Cathedral: Sarah Anne Price to be ordained priest, and Andrew David McDonald and Lynette Jean Lightfoot to be ordained deacon.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
