¡Rey de reyes!
or, Soothed by the Christ Hymn of Colossians 1
First, here are a few things you should know:
- I just finished an intense, 6 month study of the Colossian letter from the New Testament
- I like to solve problems, my mind is wired this way and a good problem that needs solving makes my pulse quicken.
- Several of the Shelter residents had the phrase "¡Rey de reyes! artistically drawn on their school folders. I saw this many times.
- Rey de reyes in English is King of kings; a term applied in the New Testament to Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6.15, Revelation 17.14, Revelation 19.16)
- This is also a prominent phrase in Handel's Messiah, Hallelujah Chorus (which I've included for your enjoyment at the end of this blog)
The sixteen days at the Shelter was a blessing to me - it expanded my worldview and it was a blessing to serve. The hours were long and the sixteen days straight were a little rough but blessing far outweighed hardship. There were many questions that came to mind during this experience:
- Why have thousands of these boys come up from Central America since October 2011? What would inspire them to endure the difficult journey? What is it that makes their home countries intolerable?
There are questions that need to be asked and problems that need to be solved:
- How can we (USA, most blessed country in human history) do to help alleviate the severe poverty in these countries? What can we do to stop the gang violence that is destroying these countries? What about the corruption in these governments? Why do US citizens have to consume so many illegal drugs and thus create large illicit enterprises that bring death and destruction to both sides of the border? Why can't we divert some of the billions of dollars that are being used to secure cheap fossil fuel to our hemisphere? Why can't we divert some of the billions of dollars being used to secure Afghani Lithium to our near neighbors? What are we going to do with all of these kids?
There were times when it seems so hopeless, and I suppose we do not have the capacity or desire to solve these difficult problems. But the phrase on the school folders of these boys and the words of the Christ Hymn from Colossians 1 remind of the only real solution:
"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for HIM.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the boy, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
There...problem solved...I can't wait for that day.
