Catholics need to be ready and willing to do whatever they can to prepare to serve in God's kingdom, Saint Christopher Catholic Church in Marana said recently.

"Being a spectator and observing all of the pageantry isn’t enough," a Meditation published in the church's Nov. 22 bulletin said. "Jesus wants us to inherit the kingdom and live the kingdom. It is built on the blocks of love, mercy, compassion, hope, faith and blessing."

The meditation said that for those who truly want the kingdom; it engages, changes and transforms hearts and minds.

It also stated that many Americans are fascinated with the English monarchy for various reasons.

"Thoughts and images of kings and queens are often centered on this storybook understanding of who and what they are," the meditation said. "We associate protocols, etiquette, and proper words and actions to how we approach members of a royal family. These tools serve the necessary purpose of keeping them isolated, enthroned and at a distance."

To observers, there is often something attractive about all the pomp and circumstance, but we should not see Christ in that same way.

"We often behave as if Christ is an isolated, enthroned, royal and even ineffective king," the meditation stated. "Jesus wants nothing to do with having the status of an earthly king. Jesus also does not want to be watched, observed or set apart."

Additionally, the meditation said that while people might not be physically poor, they can be either spiritually or emotionally poor.

"We may not be marginalized as many physically are, cast aside because they have too many needs or don’t quite fit in," the meditation said. "But who hasn’t experienced isolation, loneliness, inner turmoil, angst, heartache or loss?"

The message suggests stopping, looking and listening because that is what God is asking all to do.