“Jesus, King of the Universe wants to be my friend!” 😱🤯

Yes, the emoji was literally my reaction a year ago when that revelation hit me during a time of worship. How awesome is the fact that Jesus, the Universal King wants to be my friend! It’s me that He wants to befriend. That feeling of excitement mingled with “Seriously? Me?” was prevalent at that moment of grace.

As I calmed down, I started asking what is the appropriate response from me. I realised that I want to honour this King-friend of mine to the best of my ability. Christ doesn’t need anything from me but my response and attitude in approaching this friendship changes everything for me. It’s true that God doesn’t need our worship. Our worship of God is really for our sake – for our sanctification.

What constitute “the best of my ability?”. For me, it starts with my body language, the most visible response. Do I approach my Eucharistic King-friend with reverent? Do I dress appropriately for mass or do I dress better at a party? Do I really believe in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist? Do I give my small change or do I give from my heart? Does God get my “first fruit”? The list goes on and on.

I desire to present my body as a living sacrifice to this King- friend of mine. Therefore, He deserves me dressing up a bit for mass, He deserves me receiving His body in a reverant manner, He deserves my trust and He definitely deserves my best offering.

In the past as a young lady (and quite a vainpot), I remember being asked by my non believer father why was I dressed so casually (3 quarter length pants and t-shirt with heels of course!) if I was going for mass. I was at that point, in the beginning of my faith journey with little understanding of hierachy of importance. Then not long after that, my old parish priest challenged us in a formation session about our attire to mass. He commented that most people dress better to work than to mass where they meet the King of kings. That ran deep for me. And I began to change my attitude slowly as I grew deeper in faith. Today I get it even more, dressing up for mass is honouring Christ. Just like with any earthly kings, we don’t have an audience with them dressed with 3 quarter length pants, t-shirt and heels. Common sense tells us to dress appropriately. If an earthly king gets our attention, why not the King of kings? I also learnt in a big way that my body language change me and starting with the way the dress is by far the easiest step. My demeanor follows the way I dress anyway. The young vainpot Irene would have fret over what to wear every week; praise God that today I just feel free to be wearing any decent and comfortable attire. So happy to say I can get ready in under 10mins. Dressing up for my King-friend has another important dimension; it reminds me of my rightful place – that I am a creature facing my Creator. Like the Wise Men recognising Christ, the King; I want to pay Him homage.

Viva Christo Rey!

With lots of love,
Irene