The National Catholic Youth Conference concluded last evening at the Sprint Center as thousands of teenagers recommitted to Christ.  Their weekend was spent pondering what it means for us to have Christ as our king, Chris enthroned in our hearts to guide our actions.  The teens enthroned Christ through praying, singing, dancing, texting and a variety of trading sessions.  As one person said, Christ changed the world with 12 disciples—imagine what he could do with 22,000!  Our young Catholics were exhorted to let Christ reign over them, reign in them and reign through them.

We can talk about Christ within us because of what happened back at our baptism.  At the moment our parents held us for our baptism we were changed.  We became different than those who are not baptized.  We were joined to Christ’s family and empowered with the Holy Spirit to live differently than the rest of the world.  After the pouring of the baptismal water the priest took the sacred chrism and told us, “just as Christ was anointed a priest, a prophet and a king, so may you live as a member of Christ’s Body.”  So we were given the grace to live in this new family, in the kingdom of God.  We realize that gift each time we come to Sunday mass, each time we seek forgiveness in reconciliation, each time we celebrate any of the sacraments.

In the gospel today Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world.  The way of the world is not a way of ultimate respect.  The way of the world is to look out for number one, to have as the most important thing in life our own personal satisfaction.  Watch TV commercials some day and you’ll see how the world wants us to be fearful, dependent on this and that product so that we can be at peace.  And it seems to me the ways of the world then cause us to behave inappropriately.  The world capitalizes on our fears and then feeds them.  When we get all wrapped up in our fears we act inappropriately and lash out at people who deserve our love and respect.

I see the ways of the world in talk radio.  Maybe it is just my bias, but I seldom come away from listening to talk radio as a more peaceful or content person.  Rather, I find myself depressed, angry, elated, puffed up with pride.  I’m not sure that I want to form my heart through the words of a talk show host who is dependent on high ratings to make his or her money and who knows that the more sensational he or she can be the better his or her ratings will be.  I’d like to do it another way.

Jesus conquers the world’s way of thinking.  He promises to reign in our hearts.  Christ will guide us to kingdom behavior that shines his light.

Christ reigns when we have ultimate respect for one another.  That means we don’t label Left or Right, good or bad, Tiger or Jayhawk, Democrat or Republican, but see each person as Christ does, as a person, unique and gifted.

Christ reigns when we moderate our impulses in situations that we don’t agree with.

Christ reigns when we bring humor and insight to problems rather than despairing or adding to the difficulty.
Christ reigns when we celebrate our blessings today rather than regret our past.

Christ reigns when we offer compassion to one another in time of need.

This is our legacy, brothers and sisters.  Christ alive within us, changing us, leading us to a future more wonderful than we could have hoped.