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HOMILY REFLECTION
Sister Beverly Flynn, CSJ
Feast of Christ the King- 2002

My name is Sister Beverly Ann Flynn. I’m a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. I taught religion her at St. Basil’s school for ten years – 1983-1993.

I was asked to speak about Christ the King and the mural, because from the first time I saw the painting I loved it. This church is blessed to have such a magnificent piece of religious art, painted by the famous artist Jan de Rosen. I thank Fr. Leon for giving me this opportunity to speak about it. I want all you children to turn your eyes and ears and mind up here to the mural. So you can tell your parents what you learned after mass or I would be happy if you could come up and tell me what you remember.

Getting back to the Gospel in relation to the mural Christ comes in all his glory as Christ the King to ask each of us what have I done to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick? The Gospel speaks also of the sheep and the goats. Don’t be too hard on the goats, as we all have some goat in us. Our weakness, faults, and sins like the saints in the mural we have to keep trying to overcome them so they don’t overcome us.

Look up at Christ. I’ve heard people say he looks stern even mean. I don’t think stern is the right word. Serious, yes, but not stern. Christ held the world out to me and asks me this question. What am I doing to build up his church? A serious face for a serious question.

Note on Christ’s lapel is the symbol of the four writers of the Gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Through their writings in the New Testament we know the heart and mind of Christ so these writers have a rightful place on Christ’s lapel next to His heart.

The angels on each side of Christ represent the beginning time and the end time.

Michael
On my right is Archangel Michael whose name means Who is Like God! He wears red for courage in his fight against the devil who he cast into hell. The sword is a symbol of dependences and love of God which will always defeat evil in us and in the world. Notice the serpent is headless as Christ is the greatest power.

Uriel
On the other side of Christ is Uriel. The angel of the end time who supposedly will blow the trumpet as the end of the world to call us all to judgment. As scripture says, we know not the day or the hour. My mom used to say, “You go when you are called. The important thing is to be ready.”

Doctors
On either side of Christ are the Doctors of the Church. Doctors are men and women who have written well of Christ and lived lives dedicated to him.

Symbol and Teaching
Most of these doctors on the mural hold a symbol showing a significant incident in their life. All of these men have something to teach us.

On the left as you face the mural are the Doctors of the Eastern Church.

St. John Damascene
He was born in 675 in Damascus, born rich, well educated, held a high position in the Arab government. He gave it up to enter the monastery. He became a well-known preacher. He spoke against the Emperor Leo III who decreed there would be no more pictures or statues in church. A heresy called Iconoclasm. John holds a crown because he had to speak against civil authority when these laws interfere in church matters. You can thank him for our statues and pictures.

St. Gregory of Nazianzus – the Holy Ditherer
Born in 325 Arianzus – Modern Turkey. He and St. Basil were good friends all their lives, but were different. Gregory was most suited to the life of a monk but he was easily talked into things he didn’t want to do and then regretted his decisions. He was overly sensitive. Hated responsibility – sometimes avoided it. He was timid, irritable at times, often despondent. But on the other side: He was loved and respected by his friends. Highly sensitive, wrote beautiful poetry. Exceedingly generous and quick to forgive. He was a loveable person but too often said yes to positions he was not suited to fill, but even then did great work for the church. The symbol is a wasp nest. As Bishop of Constantinople he had so many troubles he said it was like being attacked by wasps.

St. John Chrysostom – the Golden Voice
Born in Antioch in Spain in 344. Raised by his mother who was widowed at age 20. Gifted with a happy disposition, liked to study, a good student, eloquent speaker. Chrysostom means golden tongue. He became a monk, and his health broke down. He was such a good speaker the Emperor Arcadius appointed him Patriarch of Constantinople the highest office in the Eastern Church. The church needed reform. No one thought this sickly weak man could do anything. Eventually his strong speaking has its effect. His strong words offended the Emperor and especially the Empress. Oh the wrath of an angry woman. She had him exiled. John died on his way there. His last words summed up his life. He said, “Glory be to God”. He left a body of writing unparalleled in the ancient church. His writings were guided by the Holy Spirit. Symbol – a book and a dove.

St. Basil the Great – Our Patron The Lion in Lambskin.
Born in 329 in Cappadocia in modern Turkey. He had a wonderful family – produced 3 Bishops and 3 saints. Although he was weak, sickly, small in stature, headstrong, found it difficult to see another point of view, and wanted everything done his way, he was a driving force for the early church. Famous for this energetic leadership as bishop he started soup kitchens, schools, orphanages, retreat houses, and hospitals for lepers. He was a great preacher. He wrote books about God. He died at age 49, after only nine years a bishop, but he accomplished so much he is called St. Basil the Great. Symbol – he holds a flame because his leadership was such a light to the early church. Remember that song I don’t want much to set the world on fire. I just want to start a flame in your heart ~ that’s what St. Basil wants to do for us.

On the right side of the mural are the Doctors of the Western Church.

St. Ambrose (my favorite) Called the people’s Bishop.
Born in 333 at Trier just inside the border of Germany. An Officer and a Gentleman he loved being a Roman citizen. At a young age he was elected the Governor of Liguria near Milan. He was known to the people for his patriotic devotion to duty and public works. Along with those gifts he possessed a gentle spirit of Christian love, courtesy and good humor. Good humor – I like that. You know that saying “He who laughs last.”

In those days when the Bishop died the person to succeed him was chosen by popular acclaim. As Governor Ambrose came to the assembly to keep order. Imagine his surprise when the people began to clamor “Ambrose for Bishop” and they wouldn’t stop. He recognized God’s hand in their words, gave up his position as governor, was baptized and began studying for the priesthood and was ordained Bishop of Milan. Because he had great speaking ability, it was his homilies that began the conversion of St. Augustine. (God’s hand). Symbol – St. Ambrose holds the Roman helmet because as I said he loved being a Roman citizen.

St. Augustine – Sinner to Saint
Born in 354 in Tagaste in North Africa. He father was a pagan but mother Monica was a devout Christian. Augustine grew up more pagan than Christian. He detested school but loved to study. He led a wild life, lived unmarried with a woman for 15 years and had one son. He joined many other religions because he was always in search of truth. Small of stature, and possessed of a weak voice, he was a marvelous speaker. So when he was short of money, he took a professorship in Milan. It was there that he heard St. Ambose speaking about scripture. He recognized truth and became a convert, then a priest and bishop. He wrote 94 books, 270 letters to friends, and 450 sermons. Augustine became the greatest mind in the church. Symbol – He holds a scroll and a flame because his writings are still an inspiration today. ”Our hearts were made for Thee, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in Thee”.

St. Gregory the Great
Born of noble blood in 540 AD in Rome. Well educated and at age 30, became the Prefect of Rome. At age 35, he sold his vast property, became a monk and founded 6 monasteries, and lived this was for 4 years. But because of his abilities, the Pope sent him as an ambassador to the Imperial Court in Constantinople. When the Pope died Gregory succeeded him. Gregory was part Prince, part diplomat, part monk, part landlord, and wholly a Saint. He set about reforms in the church, wrote books on Scripture, Saints, and the Sacraments. He is best known for putting the parts of the Mass in the order they are used today and introducing Gregorian chant into the Mass. Symbol – is the attire of the Pope, tiara on his head, the red shoes, and the white robe.

St. Jerome – Called the Irascible Saint
Born in Dalmatia a Roman citizen and educated in Rome. St. Jerome would be a good patron for someone who had difficulty controlling his temper and sarcastic tongue. No one wanted to be his enemy because his words could cut you down instantly. On the other hand, he was a charismatic person with a magnetic personality and had many friends and devoted pupils. Many came to him for spiritual direction. As secretary to the Pope, he began translating the Bible from Hebrew to Latin. Later, he lived like a hermit in a cave and continued his work on translation. A popular legend has made him a Cardinal. He wears the red robes. Another legend tells us that a lion with a thorn in its paw walked into his cave Jerome took out the thorn and they became friends. Famous artists put Jerome and the lion in their pictures.

In conclusion, today we celebrate and rejoice together that Christ is Our King and we honor those men on the mural for their zeal for Christ in spite of weaknesses. Christ continues to hold the whole world in His Hands and he holds you and me lovingly there. Now we are the ones to do Christ’s work. We are His Hands in this world. Ask yourself: “How do I respond to my King?”