While we rejoice in the fact that Lord is King, and we belong to Him, we also need to remember the rules He gave us. While there were 10 commandments given to the people of Israel, which were expanded into 613 Jewish laws, and the 1,752 Canons in the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church (which is defined in it as “The People of God” and not an “institution”) which, if you count the sub-Canons, creates 4,404 rules, Jesus condensed them all into only two – “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-39).
A little earlier in Matthew (5:44), Jesus also said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those persecuting you.”
Therefore, we have only three rules to follow – and they all deal with love.
Interestingly, in one of the Gospel readings for the celebration of Christ the King, we hear how we’ll be judged. Not necessarily by the wrong things we do, or the bad things we do, for the Lord is kind and merciful. We’ll be judged on what we “didn’t” do, such as when we don’t feed the hungry, don’t satisfy the thirsty, don’t clothe the naked, don’t welcome the stranger, and don’t visit the sick and imprisoned.
And given today’s political climate, you might see how that goes against what others think we should do.
In case you missed it, those five ways to follow the three rules are to;
- feed the hungry
- satisfy the thirsty
- clothe the naked
- welcome the stranger, and
- visit the sick and imprisoned.
Let’s continue to be mindful of what we’re called to do as we begin the season of Advent next week, and prepare to celebrate our King and Savior’s birth.
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