"In my beginning is my end," the opening verse of poet T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets" reflection on the passing of time, is most appropriate for us as we approach the end of the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King and the beginning of a new year on the First Sunday of Advent (December 3, 2023).
The bible readings for this Sunday's Feast of Christ the King (November 26, 2023) invite our prayerful reflection on such endings and beginnings.
For some people, entitling Christ as our "King" might ring untrue or even sacrilege because of the discredit royalty has gained in recent years. Who would want the incarnate Son of God and his immaculate mother to be burdened with such royal family "trappings"?
What kind of royalty are we talking about? Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate (Matt 27:11-14, Mk 15:2-5, Lk 23:2-5) is inconclusive, finding "no crime in this man," but Jesus' last days exemplify his reign that is “not of this world,” a kingdom of self emptying for the least in this world, rather than some kind of pompous coronation ceremony.
This is what we prepare for at the end of this church year, a new beginning from the perspective of the values of Christ's kingdom, reflected in the beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12, Lk 6: 20-23)...blessed are...the poor...the hungry...the excluded...the merciful...the peacemakers..., values also beautifully imaged in Christmas' nativity narratives we'll pray with once again in our new beginnings on into 2024.
How can you prepare in this way for these new beginnings? Certainly many of the prayer resources provided during your White House Jesuit Retreats such as the Anima Christi (WH prayer book p. 41) in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius can help guide you through this transition from beginning to end and on to new beginnings once again.
Fr. Ted Arroyo, S.J.
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