“King of Pain” by the Police (1983)

birds flying over body of water during golden hour — Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

LordMyChefSundayMusic//Solemnity of Christ the King-B//25 November 2018

What’s on your mind, Who’s in your heart?

The trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate occupies a very important role in the gospel of John which is also full of symbolisms like our Sunday music by Sting of the Police. Unlike the other three evangelists, John mentioned only in passing – just a sentence – that Jesus was brought to the high priest Caiaphas (Jn.18:24) and spent great details in narrating to us His trial before Pilate. This is the first time, and the only time in all gospel accounts that Jesus is face to face with a representative of the world’s political power to show us that His kingdom is “in this world but not of this world.”

Jesus Christ is king when in our hearts He reigns supreme, when we see Him among others as our brothers and sisters in Him. More than our thoughts and ideas, more than our feelings and assumptions are persons to be loved and respected. To recognize Jesus our King is to follow Him by taking up our cross because His kingdom is based not on force or power but on love expressed in humility, kindness, patience, and mercy that are often seen as weakness in the world. Yes, one may say His kingship is out of this world but that is exactly what the world needs these days! Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe because He is also the “king of pain” who bore all sufferings for us because of His immense love for us.

“King of Pain” was written by Sting from their album “Synchronicity” released in 1983. Sting admits that “King of Pain” is about the pains of his separation from his first wife. To heal his soul, he went on a vacation to Jamaica and while looking at the sun with a friend who is now his second wife Trudie, Sting remarked “There’s a little black spot on the sun today.” He then paused a few minutes and said, “That’s my soul up there.” He went into his room to write its lyrics that evoke love and submission to pain, something not far from Christ’s call to us all that whoever wants to be great in His kingdom must be the slave of all like Him who came “not to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many” (Mk.10:44-45).

There’s a little black spot on the sun today

It’s the same old thing as yesterday

There’s a black hat caught in the high tree top

There’s a flag pole rag and the wind won’t stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running ’round my brain

I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a little black spot on the sun today, that’s my soul up there

It’s the same old thing as yesterday, that’s my soul up there

There’s a black hat caught in a high tree top, that’s my soul up there

There’s a flag pole rag and the wind won’t stop, that’s my soul up there

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running ’round my brain

I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a fossil that’s trapped in a high cliff wall, that’s my soul up there
There’s a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall, that’s my soul up there
There’s a blue whale beached by a springtide’s ebb, that’s my soul up there
There’s a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web, that’s my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There’s a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There’s a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There’s a skeleton choking on a crust of bread

There’s a red fox torn by a huntmen’s pack, that’s my soul up there
There’s a black winged gull with a broken back, that’s my soul up there
There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
King of pain
King of pain, king of pain, I always be king of pain

Prayer to be filled with Life Anew

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Tuesday, 20 November 2018, Week XXXIII, Year II

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22///Luke 19:1-10

Lord Jesus Christ, today I feel like your beloved disciple John, receiving your revelations not about the end of time but about my real self.

Like the people of Sardis, so often I have that “reputation of being alive but actually dead (Rev.3:1).” Yes, there are times I merely accomplish things for you but deeply lacking with life and vitality, zest and enthusiasm. On the surface, like what St. Paul had noted in one of his letters, I act like busy body but really doing nothing. If yesterday I lacked love in the things I do, most likely I also lack life. When there is love, there is always life.

Like the people of Sardis, I would always hide on the sides refusing to walk on the main street because I do not have the drive to be with you on the way. Like Zachaeus, I climb trees to hide from others though too eager to see you, to look at you, to listen to you.

Give me the grace to be filled with life anew, with warmth and energy, to make a stand for the gospel, to stand for what is true and just. Forgive me in my lifelessness that made me lukewarm in the process like the people of Laodicea who were neither hot nor cold (Rev. 3:16). Do not spit me out of your mouth, Lord. Like Zachaeus, give me the grace to turn away from sins and evil, to make a stand for justice and truth.

Let your salvation come today Lord in many families divided! Like what you did in entering upon the home of Zachaeus, smash the walls dividing many family members from one another like indifference and coldness. Fill them with more love and life, kindness and warmth, goodwill and concern for one another. I pray for all family members who have stopped talking with each other, those with festering bitterness and suspicions deep inside, those who continue to hurt each other in words or in deeds, in silence and indifference. Rekindle the warmth of their kinship, of their being one flesh, one blood, one root, one family. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo by the author, Manor House, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, November 2017.

LMC

Prayer to See Love Anew

Breakfast Recipe-Prayer, Monday

19 November 2018, Week XXXIII, Year II

Revelation 1: 1-4; 2:1-5///Luke 18:35-43

Praise and thanksgiving to you O God, loving and merciful Father!

Thank for making me realize on this beautiful Monday that doing so many good things are not enough if there is no love. So many times I am blinded by the ministry, by the work to be done, by the people to be helped out, even by you, my God, that I do so many things for you without any love at all.

I’m sorry, Lord. There are times that ministry and service, even the very life of holiness become a task or a work to be done and completed, empty of any love at all. There are many times I see myself becoming like the Ephesians in St. John’s vision filled with energy and vigor in the mission but empty of love.

Heal my blindness, O Lord! Let me regain not only my sight to see things clearly but to see you most especially in your essence, in love. Let me see love in everything I do, love in the people I meet and serve. Let me see, O Lord that love you have filled me with so much that I have forgotten and even refused to share sometimes. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

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