Christmas

You are the King of glory, Christ!

With a soul full of awe, gratitude and Christmas joy we are entering the New Year with the certainty that God loves us. In his boundless love the Son of God goes as far as to become a man. He gave his life for us in order to give us back the honor and freedom of God’s children. He showed to us in his body so that we could come to know God’s glory in his humiliation, God’s power and strength in his helplessness, the fullness of divinity in fragility of humanity. He comes to the Earth contaminated by selfishness and hatred and ready to mass destruction to found his kingdom. Only a deep faith assures us that this tiny Child, whose throne is his Mother’s lap, - that this Child is the true King who will triumph over evil and death, over human hearts and all nations. However, the child’s vulnerability in the poverty of the Bethlehem’s cave will convince everyone that this King’s Reign will not know violence, injustice and war. “His kingdom will be a kingdom of truth and life, kingdom of holiness and grace, the kingdom of justice, love and peace.” (Preface of Christ the King)

When one day he will preach his doctrine and impose conditions of entry into his kingdom, he will make love his main requirement of following. Mercy will triumph over the slavery of sin; his compassion will turn hatred into love.

The reign of the Divine King will not be based on domineeringness and pride, on deceit, glory and domination, on cunningness and deception, but on humility and meekness, poverty and obedience of truth, purity and fidelity, which is manifested in sacrifice.

He exclaims: “Come to me, all who you are weary and burdened … and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart!” (Mt 11:28-29) At other times he says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23) The True King of this nation and the Ruler of the whole Universe can afford to “lose” in the eyes of this world because he will defeat all by an ignominious death.

He will rise from the dead as the Winner and will be the terror of all evil and violence, oppression and injustice till the end of time. He, the King of love, will be a great reward for those who lived to love. All generations will testify to him:

Christ yesterday and today,

The beginning and the end,

Alpha and Omega.

Christ is the Lord of all ages,

He governs history,

His is the kingdom and the power and the glory

For ever and ever. (Consecration of Paschal candle)

And this glorious and eternal Winner,

Jesus Christ the King comes before us at the beginning of the year

As the King of Mercy,

As the King of Love,

As the King of our hearts.

He opens his arms to you so as his glowing heart beats in your heart so that you love with his love and help to grow his kingdom.

Yours SM. Vojtěcha

from a letter to sisters for the year 1987