Ending the year

The local radio station, Westsound held its Hogmanay party tonight. It's being recorded and will be broadcast on 31st December. Those who attended will get to celebrate twice this year.
The church also does that - this Sunday marks the end of the liturgical year. We celebrate Christ the King Sunday. The lectionary reading is from Matthew's gospel - about sheep and goats and the notion that "as you did it for the least of these, you did it for me". It's a funny kind of king that we celebrate.
Next Sunday sees the start of Advent, a new year in the church when we move from Matthew's gospel to Mark's.
Sunday's reading is a good one to finish off the year - reminding us of how whatever we do for others has far reaching consequences. I believe that doing good can be contagious and, at the end of this, the church's year, my hope is that I can move into the new year infecting others with the gift of compassion.