Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Over the past year, we have witnessed the fall of a number of “Kingdoms” in the Middle East. 

The conflict is still very prevalent today. The rulers of these “Kingdoms” were mostly tyrants who ill-treated their people as well as stole their wealth. Two thousand years ago a rather different King arrived on the scene; he was Christ the King. 

What were his followers to make of a King who has no army, who rides into his capital city on a donkey and says, “My Kingdom is not of this world”? What were his followers to make of a King who told them that he was not going to Jerusalem to take over government, but rather to be crucified? 

Christ’s Kingdom still defies our full understanding, for this Kingdom has no borders to define it, no weapons or military to defend it. It is a Kingdom that seems to turn upside-down the very nature of a Kingdom, for the one who rules is the one who serves. What’s more, the character of the citizens of the kingdom is not a conquering character, one of harshness and self-seeking but one of gentleness and giving. The manifesto for this Kingdom is found in the content of the Sermon on the Mount:

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them. Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised. Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them. Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God. Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them His children. Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.” Matt. 5:3-10.

In addition to this manifesto, there are many other aspects that make the Kingdom of Christ very different to the Kingdoms of his time and to some Kingdoms of our time: Revenge: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you, do not take revenge on anyone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap you on the left check, too.” Matt. 5:38,39

Anger: “So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, then, come back and offer your gift to God.” Matt. 5:23,24

Hatred: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies’. But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5: 43-45

Judgement: “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you; for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others.” Matt. 7:1,2 Jesus’ idea of Kingdom was so radically different, that when Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he said, “Do not conform yourselves by the standards of this world,  but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” Rom. 12:2 

Unfortunately, people throughout the centuries have misused and even manipulated for their own interests, the concept of God’s Kingdom. The Feast of Christ the King offers us the opportunity to renew within us the true characteristics of a citizen of the Kingdom, and to make them manifest to others by our words and actions.

God Bless 

Leonie Burfield

Principal