OGT DAILY Day Three Hundred and Eighteen CHRIST the KING DAY

Today is the last Sunday of Pentacost - which is the season in the liturgical calendar when the spirit of God - like flames of fire or a mighty wind - enters the hearts and minds of the apostles so that they are confirmed in their belief of Christ as the son of God.   It marks the beginnings of the Christian church approximately seven weeks or fifty (penta) days from the rising of Christ at Easter Sunday.

This day is also known as Christ the King Day.  The following Sunday will begin Advent which is the anticipation of the birth of Christ.   Below is a classic sermon reading for this day:

MATTHEW 25:31-46

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"

Interpreted this means that God expects us to treat all of our neighbors as brothers and sisters whom we would house, feed, clothe or visit in their illness or confinement in prison.   

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - tells us that treating all others well is to be treating God well as God dwells in all of us.   The pastor at our church made this point today as important to remember in these polarized times.   Just as with tonglen, the Buddhist exercise for compassion, we need to remember compassion and understanding for those whom we disagree with politically.  It seems a tall order, but perhaps the only way forward in the face of so much political destruction.