Father Glenn J. Comandini

Many of us notice how the neighbors who put up their Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving, are often found taking these down the day after Christmas. They do not even leave these up until the Baptism of the Lord, the last day of liturgical season of Christmas. When we consider how much work often goes into outdoor lights, the Nativity Scene indoors and the Christmas Tree, it seems so sad that just a few days after the bleak winter solstice, people are in a rush to take down and pack away these beautiful symbols of the Yuletide Season. That is, of course, if you are not of eastern European descent.

In 1099 A.D., St. Anselm of Canterbury completed a manuscript entitled Cur Homo Deus, (“Why Did God Become Man?”). This work became the classic treatment of the satisfaction theory of redemption. According to this theory, which is based on the feudal system of society, finite humanity has committed a crime or, more accurately, a sin against the infinite God. In feudal society, an offender was required to make recompense or, better, satisfaction, to the one offended, according to that person’s status. For example, a crime against the king would require more satisfaction than a crime against a duke or a serf, for that matter. Along this way of thinking, finite humanity, which could never make satisfaction to the infinite God, could expect only eternal death.

In just a few days, we will gather around the Table of the Lord for the last Sunday in ordinary time, the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. We – incarnate spirits–created in the image and likeness of God–will gather to proclaim our desire to remain faithful subjects of Jesus, King of the Universe. Despite the temptations which we face by the exaggerated lure of freedom, packaged by society in those who speak about the sovereignty of the human condition and the infinite rights that we have by virtue of our being human, we, like Christians before us, concur that Jesus Christ is Lord.