Sunday, November 25, 2012
Christ the King (Solemnity)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33-37

Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.

-- St. Camillus de Lellis

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Last Sunday of the Church Year)

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Last Sunday of the Church Year

The Trinity with Mary and John the Baptist - detail from The Triumph of the Christian Faith
fresco by Raphael - Stanzo della segnatura - Vatican

Christ has received the authority and glory of a king; every people, tribe and nation will serve Him forever - Antiphon, Evening Prayer I
“If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; if this power embraces all men, it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from his empire. He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, as instruments of justice unto God.[35] If all these truths are presented to the faithful for their consideration, they will prove a powerful incentive to perfection.”
— Pope Pius XI – Quas Primas (§34)
During the Jubilee Year observing the 16^th centenary of the Council of Nicea, Pope Pius XI issued an encyclical, Quas Primas, by which he established the feast of Christ the King as a celebration of the universal Church to be observed each year on the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, before the first Sunday of Advent.
In this encyclical, issued December 11, 1925, Pope Pius recounts biblical and traditional sources affirming the sovereignty of Christ, and he also explains the need for such a liturgical celebration in the entire Church in the contemporary world.
Link – http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_11121925_quas-primas_en.html

Canticle Revelation 4:11; 5:9-12
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
Worthy are you, O Lord,
to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed men for God
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made us a kingdom and priests to our God,
and we shall reign on earth.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and might,
and honor and glory and blessing.

Collect
Almighty and merciful God, who breaks the power of evil and makes all things new in your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe: May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Year A
First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12; 15-17
For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice. As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be everything to every one.
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
"When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me". Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?" And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me". Then He will say to those at His left hand, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me". Then they also will answer, "Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?" Then He will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me". And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Year B
First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Gospel: John 18:33-37
Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."
Year C
First Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3
In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
Second Reading: Colossians 1:12-20
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Gospel: Luke 23:35-43
The rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over Him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr
Optional Memorial
November 25th

Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina
Saint Catherine (detail)
1505 - 1510
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Prayer:
Glorious Saint Catherine, virgin and martyr,
help me to imitate your love of purity.
Give me strength and courage
in fighting off the temptations of the world and evil desires.
Help me to love God with my whole heart
and serve Him faithfully.
O Saint Catherine,
through your glorious martyrdom for the love of Christ,
help me to be loyal to my faith and my God
as long as I live.

Patron saint of young women, millers, philosophers, preachers, spinners, students and wheelwrights.
In fourth century Alexandria, there lived a Christian noblewoman and philosopher of great beauty named Catherine. When she heard that the Roman emperor Maxentius was persecuting Christians, Catherine publicly protested. Astounded by her audacity, Maxentius sent fifty famous philosophers to try to change her mind, but Catherine, with her clever arguments, converted every one of them to Christianity. Maxentius immediately ordered their execution.
The emperor then tried to persuade Catherine to become his bride. Catherine refused, saying that she was already a bride of Christ. This answer drove Maxentius into a fury, and he commanded that she be tortured on the infamous spiked wheel (later called the "Catherine wheel"). But angels are said to have thrown bolts of lightning so that the wheel broke and the spikes flew off, injuring onlookers but leaving Catherine unharmed. When she was eventually beheaded, milk, not blood, flowed from her neck, and angels carried her body up to Mount Sinai.
(Source: Carol Armstrong. Lives and Legends of the Saints. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.)

St. Catherine Hearts
Les Coeurs de Sainte Catherine

In northern France, there is an old custom, on St Catherine's Day heart-shaped cakes are given to young women who have reached age twenty-five and are not married to encourage them in their search for love.

You need a 1-quart heart shaped pan for this.
Butter or shortening for greasing the pan
7 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup mixed candied fruit
1/2 orange extract
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
3 tablespoons water
Optional: Confectioner's sugar

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Butter and flour the baking pan.

Cream the butter. Gradually add the sugar, mixing well; beat in the eggs, one at a time. Resift the flour with the baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Stir the flour into the butter mixture. Stir in the fruits, orange extract, and orange rind, and the water. Mix thoroughly. Pour the batter into the baking pan.

Bake for 20 minutes, then raise the heat to 425°F and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until a straw inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the pan when cool.

Optional: sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

Yield: 1 cake

from A Continual Feast by Evelyn Birge Vitz, originally published by Harper & Row in 1995, now available in paperback from Ignatius Press.

Collect:
Almighty ever-lasting God,
who gave Saint Catherine of Alexandria to your people
as a Virgin and an invincible Martyr,
grant that through her intercession
we may be strengthened in faith and constancy
and spend ourselves without reserve
for the unity of the Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever. +Amen

First Reading: Revelation 21:5-7
And He who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also He said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:28-33
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Saint's Days are always superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Information: St. Catherine of Alexandria

Feast Day:	November 25
Born:	287, Alexandria, Egypt
Died:	305, Alexandria, Egypt
Major Shrine:	Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai
Patron of:	Aalsum, apologists, craftsmen who work with a wheel (potters, spinners, etc.), archivists, dying people, educators, girls, jurists, knife sharpeners, lawyers, librarians, libraries, maidens, mechanics, millers, nurses, philosophers, preachers, scholars, schoolchildren, scribes, secretaries, spinsters, stenographers, students, tanners, teachers, theologians, University of Paris, unmarried girls, haberdashers, wheelwrights

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Feast Day: November 25
Born: (around) 285 :: Died: 305

Catherine lived in early Christian times and was the daughter of a wealthy pagan couple of Alexandria, Egypt. She was a very beautiful girl whose great interest was in learning. Catherine was very good at science and public speaking.

She loved to study deep questions of philosophy and religion. She began to read about Christianity. Then one day she received a vision and decided to become a Christian.

St. Catherine was only eighteen when Emperor Maxentius began making the Christians suffer. Without fear, lovely young Catherine told him that he was being very cruel and would be punished by God.

When he spoke of the pagan gods, she very plainly showed him that they were false. Maxentius could not answer her arguments, so he sent for fifty of his best pagan philosophers.

Once again, Catherine proved the truth of her religion. All fifty philosophers were convinced that she was right and decided to become Christians. In great anger, Maxentius had every one of them killed.

Then, he tried to win her by offering her a queen's crown. When Catherine refused the crown, he had her beaten and thrown into prison.

While Maxentius was away at camp, his wife and an officer were very curious to hear this amazing Christian girl speak and went to her prison cell. All who heard her knew she spoke the truth and as a result they and two hundred soldiers of the guard were converted and became Christians.

When Maxentius found out, they were all put to death. Then he ordered Catherine to be placed on a wheel full of spikes to be tortured to death. When the wheel began to spin, it suddenly snapped in two and broke.

Finally, St. Catherine was beheaded. She has always been the patroness of Christian philosophers.

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	John 18
33.	Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews?	Introivit ergo iterum in prætorium Pilatus : et vocavit Jesum, et dixit ei : Tu es rex Judæorum ?	εισηλθεν ουν εις το πραιτωριον παλιν ο πιλατος και εφωνησεν τον ιησουν και ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο βασιλευς των ιουδαιων
34.	Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?	Respondit Jesus : A temetipso hoc dicis, an alii dixerunt tibi de me ?	απεκριθη αυτω ο ιησους αφ εαυτου συ τουτο λεγεις η αλλοι σοι ειπον περι εμου
35.	Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done?	Respondit Pilatus : Numquid ego Judæus sum ? gens tua et pontifices tradiderunt te mihi : quid fecisti ?	απεκριθη ο πιλατος μητι εγω ιουδαιος ειμι το εθνος το σον και οι αρχιερεις παρεδωκαν σε εμοι τι εποιησας
36.	Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.	Respondit Jesus : Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo. Si ex hoc mundo esset regnum meum, ministri mei utique decertarent ut non traderer Judæis : nunc autem regnum meum non est hinc.	απεκριθη ιησους η βασιλεια η εμη ουκ εστιν εκ του κοσμου τουτου ει εκ του κοσμου τουτου ην η βασιλεια η εμη οι υπηρεται αν οι εμοι ηγωνιζοντο ινα μη παραδοθω τοις ιουδαιοις νυν δε η βασιλεια η εμη ουκ εστιν εντευθεν
37.	Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.	Dixit itaque ei Pilatus : Ergo rex es tu ? Respondit Jesus : Tu dicis quia rex sum ego. Ego in hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut testimonium perhibeam veritati : omnis qui est ex veritate, audit vocem meam.	ειπεν ουν αυτω ο πιλατος ουκουν βασιλευς ει συ απεκριθη [ο] ιησους συ λεγεις οτι βασιλευς ειμι εγω εγω εις τουτο γεγεννημαι και εις τουτο εληλυθα εις τον κοσμον ινα μαρτυρησω τη αληθεια πας ο ων εκ της αληθειας ακουει μου της φωνης

33. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the King of the Jews?
34. Jesus answered him, Say you this thing of yourself, or did others tell it you of me?
35. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me: what have you done?
36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.
37. Pilate therefore said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, you say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

CHRYS. Pilate, wishing to rescue Him from the hatred of the c Jews, protracted the trial a long time. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall, and called Jesus.

THEOPHYL. i.e. Apart, because he had a strong suspicion that He was innocent, and thought he could examine Him more accurately, away from the crowd: and said to Him, Are you the King of the Jews?

ALCUIN. Wherein Pilate shows that the Jews had charged Him with calling Himself King of the Jews.

CHRYS. Or Pilate had heard this by report; and as the Jews had no charge to bring forward, began to examine Him himself with respect to the things commonly reported of Him.

Jesus answered him, Say you this thing of yourself, or did others tell it you of Me?

THEOPHYL. He intimates here that Pilate was judging blindly and indiscreetly: If you say this thing of yourself, He says, bring forward proofs of My rebellion; if you have heard it from others, make regular inquiry into it.

AUG. Our Lord knew indeed both what He Himself asked, and what Pilate would answer; but He wished it to be written down n for our sakes.

CHRYS. He asks not in ignorance, but in order to draw from Pilate himself an accusation against the Jews: Pilate answered Bred, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me.

AUG. He rejects the imputation that He could have said it of Himself; Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me: adding, what have you done? Whereby he shows that this charge had been brought against Him, for it is as much as to say, If you deny that you are a King, what have you done to be delivered up to me? As if it were no wonder that He should be delivered up, if He called Himself a King.

CHRYS. He then tries to bring round the mind of Pilate, not a very bad man, by proving to him, that He is not a mere man, but God, and the Son of God; and overthrowing all suspicion of His having aimed at a tyranny, which Pilate was afraid of, Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.

AUG. This is what the good Master wished to teach us. But first it was necessary to show the falsity of the notions of both Jews and Gentiles as to His kingdom, which Pilate had heard of; as if it meant that He aimed at unlawful power; a crime punishable with death, and this kingdom were a subject of jealousy to the ruling power, and to be guarded against as likely to be hostile either to the Romans or Jews. Now if our Lord had answered immediately Pilate's question, He would have seemed to have been answering not the Jews, but the Gentiles only. But after Pilate's answer, what He says is an answer to both Gentiles and Jews: as if He said, Men, i.e. Jews and Gentiles, I hinder not your dominion in this world. What more would you have? Come by faith to the kingdom which is not of this world. For what is His kingdom, but they that believe in Him, of whom He says, you are not of the world: although He wished that they should be in the world. In the same way, here He does not say, My kingdom is not in this world; but, is not of this world. Of the world are all men, who created by God are born of the corrupt race of Adam. All that are born again in Christ, are made a kingdom not of this world. Thus hath God taken us out of the power of darkness, and translated us to the kingdom of His dear Son.

CHRYS. Or He means that He does not derive His kingdom from the same source that earthly kings do; but that He has his sovereignty from above; inasmuch as He is not mere man, but far greater and more glorious than man: If My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. Here He shows the weakness of an earthly kingdom, has its strength from its servants, whereas that higher kingdom is sufficient to itself, and wanting in nothing. And if His kingdom was thus the greater of the two, it follows that He was taken of His own will, and delivered up Himself.

AUG, After showing that His kingdom was not of this world, He adds, But now My kingdom is not from here. He does not say, Not here, for His kingdom is here to the end of the world, having within it the tares mixed with the wheat until the harvest. But yet it is not from here, since it is a stranger in the world.

THEOPHYL, Or He says, from here, not, here; because He reigns in the world, and carries on the government of it, and disposes all things according to His will; but His kingdom is not from below, but from above, and before all ages.

CHRYS. Heretics infer from these words that our Lord is a different person from the Creator of the world. But when He says, My kingdom is not from here, He does not deprive the world of His government and superintendence, but only shows that His government is not human and corruptible.

Pilate therefore said to Him, Are you a King then? Jesus answered, you say that I am a King.

AUG. He did not fear to confess Himself a King, but so replied as neither to deny that He was, nor yet to confess Himself a King in such sense as that His kingdom should be supposed to be of this w world. He says, you say, meaning, you being carnal say it carnally. He continues, To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that 1 should bear witness to the truth. The pronoun here, in hoc, must not be dwelt long on as if it meant, in hâc re, but shortened, as if it stood, ad hoc, natus sum, as the next words are, ad hoc veni in mundum. Wherein it is evident He alludes to His birth in the flesh not to that divine birth which never had beginning.

THEOPHYL. Or, to Pilate's question whether He w as a King our Lord answers, To this end was I born, i.e. to be a King, That I am born from a King. proves that I am a King.

CHRYS. If then He was a King by birth, He has nothing which He has not received from another. For this I came, that I should bear witness to the truth, i.e. that I should make all men believe it. We must observe how He shows His humility here: when they accused Him as a malefactor, He bore it in silence; but when He is asked of His kingdom, then He talks with Pilate, instructs him, and raises his mind to higher things. That I should bear witness to the truth shows that He had no crafty purpose in what He did.

AUG But when Christ bears witness to the truth, He bears witness to Himself; as He said above, I am the truth. But inasmuch as all men have not faith, He adds, Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice: hears, that is, with the inward ear; obeys My voice, believes Me. Every one that is of the truth, has reference to the grace by which He calls according to His purpose. For as regards the nature in which we are created, since the truth created all, all are of the truth. But it is not all to whom it is given the truth to obey the truth. For had He even said, Everyone one that hears My voice is of the truth, it still would be thought that such were of the truth, because they obeyed the truth But He does not say this, but Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice. A man then is not of the truth, because he hears His voice, but hears His voice because he is of the truth. This grace is conferred upon him by the truth.

Catena Aurea John 18

King of Kings

Second half 15c.
Novgorod

Catholic

Almanac:

Sunday, November 25
Liturgical Color: White
Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. In 2001, Blessed Pope John Paul II described Christ's Kingship as being for all men, not just those who follow Him. The Father offers Christ to all families, nations and generations.

A Christian Pilgrim

Daily Readings for: November 25, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Ordinary Time: November 25th

Solemnity of Christ the King

Old Calendar: Last Sunday after Pentecost

The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations.

Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.

Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom is: 1) supreme, extending not only to all people but also to their princes and kings; 2) universal, extending to all nations and to all places; 3) eternal, for "The Lord shall sit a King forever"; 4) spiritual, Christ's "kingdom is not of this world". — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, this feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Christ the King as Represented in the Liturgy
The liturgy is an album in which every epoch of Church history immortalizes itself. Therein, accordingly, can be found the various pictures of Christ beloved during succeeding centuries. In its pages we see pictures of Jesus suffering and in agony; we see pictures of His Sacred Heart; yet these pictures are not proper to the nature of the liturgy as such; they resemble baroque altars in a gothic church. Classic liturgy knows but one Christ: the King, radiant, majestic, and divine.

With an ever-growing desire, all Advent awaits the "coming King"; in the chants of the breviary we find repeated again and again the two expressions "King" and "is coming." On Christmas the Church would greet, not the Child of Bethlehem, but the Rex Pacificus — "the King of peace gloriously reigning." Within a fortnight, there follows a feast which belongs to the greatest of the feasts of the Church year -- the Epiphany. As in ancient times oriental monarchs visited their principalities (theophany), so the divine King appears in His city, the Church; from its sacred precincts He casts His glance over all the world....On the final feast of the Christmas cycle, the Presentation in the Temple, holy Church meets her royal Bridegroom with virginal love: "Adorn your bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ your King!" The burden of the Christmas cycle may be summed up in these words: Christ the King establishes His Kingdom of light upon earth!

If we now consider the Easter cycle, the luster of Christ's royal dignity is indeed somewhat veiled by His sufferings; nevertheless, it is not the suffering Jesus who is present to the eyes of the Church as much as Christ the royal Hero and Warrior who upon the battlefield of Golgotha struggles with the mighty and dies in triumph. Even during Lent and Passiontide the Church acclaims her King. The act of homage on Palm Sunday is intensely stirring; singing psalms in festal procession we accompany our Savior singing: Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, "Glory, praise and honor be to Thee, Christ, O King!" It is true that on Good Friday the Church meditates upon the Man of Sorrows in agony upon the Cross, but at the same time, and perhaps more so, she beholds Him as King upon a royal throne. The hymn Vexilla Regis, "The royal banners forward go," is the more perfect expression of the spirit from which the Good Friday liturgy has arisen. Also characteristic is the verse from Psalm 95, Dicite in gentibus quia Dominus regnavit, to which the early Christians always added, a ligno, "Proclaim among the Gentiles: the Lord reigns from upon the tree of the Cross!" During Paschal time the Church is so occupied with her glorified Savior and Conqueror that kingship references become rarer; nevertheless, toward the end of the season we celebrate our King's triumph after completing the work of redemption, His royal enthronement on Ascension Thursday.

Neither in the time after Pentecost is the picture of Christ as King wholly absent from the liturgy. Corpus Christi is a royal festival: "Christ the King who rules the nations, come, let us adore" (Invit.). In the Greek Church the feast of the Transfiguration is the principal solemnity in honor of Christ's kingship, Summum Regem gloriae Christum adoremus (Invit.). Finally at the sunset of the ecclesiastical year, the Church awaits with burning desire the return of the King of Majesty.

We will overlook further considerations in favor of a glance at the daily Offices. How often do we not begin Matins with an act of royal homage: "The King of apostles, of martyrs, of confessors, of virgins — come, let us adore" (Invit.). Lauds is often introduced with Dominus regnavit, "The Lord is King". Christ as King is also a first consideration at the threshold of each day; for morning after morning we renew our oath of fidelity at Prime: "To the King of ages be honor and glory." Every oration is concluded through our Mediator Christ Jesus "who lives and reigns forever." Yes, age-old liturgy beholds Christ reigning as King in His basilica (etym.: "the king's house"), upon the altar as His throne.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Things to Do:

Traditionally there would be a procession for Christ the King on this feastday. The Blessed Sacrament would be carried and the procession would end with a prayer of consecration to Christ the King and Benediction. Try to participate if your parish has a Christ the King procession. If not, try having one at home (minus the Blessed Sacrament).
Read Pope Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas (On the Feast of Christ the King) which shows that secularism is the direct denial of Christ's Kingship.
Learn more about secularism - read the Annual Statement of the Bishops of the United States released on November 14, 1947.
Being a relatively newer feast on the Liturgical calendar, there are no traditional foods for this day. Suggested ideas: a wonderful family Sunday dinner, and bake an Easter Cake or King Cake in honor of Christ the King..
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ King. A plenary indulgence is granted, if it is recite publicly on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ King.

Meditation: John 18:33-37

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

“Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33)

In honor of this great feast, let’s take some time to dwell on what it means that Jesus is King of all creation.

The prophets spoke about a king who would reign and govern God’s people in wisdom (Jeremiah 23:5-6). They spoke about a king who would “sit as ruler upon his throne” (Zechariah 6:13). They spoke about “a child” upon whose shoulder “dominion rests” (Isaiah 9:5).

Then, in the fullness of time, a heavenly King was born and lived among us. The angel told his mother, Mary: “The Lord God will give him the throne of David” (Luke 1:32). When this King entered Jerusalem the people shouted: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (19:38).

Jesus’ kingship is so powerful that even unbelievers like Pilate proclaimed this truth. “Behold, your king!” he cried out during Jesus’ trial (John 19:14). Then, when Jesus was raised from the dead, he taught his disciples “about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). And on the day of Pentecost, Peter announced that Jesus was now raised and had been “exalted to the right hand of God” (2:33).

Jesus is King over all creation— and we are citizens of his kingdom. As St. Paul said, God the Father has “delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). Finally, in his vision of the end of time, John saw Jesus coming from heaven, the “Lord of lords and king of kings” who will overpower every one of our enemies and bring us into the new Jerusalem (Revelation 17:14).

This is our King. This is the One who will return and beckon each of us: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

“Lord Jesus, we proclaim you as the King over all creation.”

Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; Revelation 1:5-8

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1. The great reality of Christianity is the Risen Christ reigning as King in all the glory of his victory over death. The first reading has a prophetic vision of Jesus’ kingship. “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). He is king not only of “peoples, nations” but also families and our individual hearts and wills. However, how easy it is for us to go through a typical week with ourselves sitting on the throne of our hearts and wills, rather than Christ. What practical steps can you take to ensure that Christ has a more prominent place in your thoughts and actions?

2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of the splendor and strength of our king. It goes on to say that he is worthy of our trust (Psalm 93:1-2). Share about any areas in your life where your trust in Christ is weaker than it should be. How can you increase your trust in Christ and open yourself more to Christ’s influence and power over these areas?

3. In the second reading, St. John tells us that our king “is coming amid the clouds,” and that he “loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” shed on the cross. What practical steps can you take to share this great love of God with your family and with others during the grace-filled Advent season?

4. Also in the second reading we hear that Christ “shares” his powers with us for the ministry of salvation: we are all “priests for his God and Father.” He has generously placed his power into our fragile hands! Can you identify any people that need to come to know Christ and his great love for them? What can you do to help bring them to your King?

5. In the Gospel, Christ asserts that his kingship bears no relation with earthly kings: “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” We know that even Christ’s disciples misunderstood the nature of his kingship, often confusing it with earthly power and with lording that power over others. Christ’s kingdom is one of service to others. What are some areas of service to others that the Lord may be calling you to do during Advent?

6. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Jesus is King over all creation—and we are citizens of his kingdom.” What do these words mean to you? As King over all creation, and your king, what can you do to enthrone Jesus over your life and make him truly the center of your life?

7. Take some time now to pray and ask for the grace to give your life completely to Jesus as your Lord, Savior, and King. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2962746/posts?page=32#32

Source: The Word Among Us

A Christian Pilgrim

EVERY ONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE

(A biblical refection on the solemnity of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING – Sunday, 25 November 2012)

Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37

First Reading: Dan 7:13-14; Psalms: Ps 93:1-2,5; Second Reading: Rev 1:5-8

The Scripture Text

Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others saqy it to you about Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed You over to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if My kingship were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but My kingship is not from the world.” Pilate said to Him, “So you are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.” (Jn 18:33-37 RSV)

When asked by Pilate. “Are you the King of the Jews?”, Jesus replied that He was a King but immediately added that His Kingdom was not of this world (Jn 18:33,36). Jesus entered into His Kingdom and into His glory when the Father raised Him from the dead, seated Him at His right hand in heaven, and conferred on Him all sovereignty, authority, power, kingship and glory. Christ’s Kingdom, unlike the transient kingdoms of this world, will never pass away. It is immovable, not subject to corruption, decay or conquest.

At the end of time, Jesus will return in glory. Then we shall see Him glorious, majestic, and powerful. His faithful servants shall be joined to Him forever. At that time, all of creation will be subjected to His reign; all will be fulfilled and complete in Him.

The foundation of Jesus’ Kingdom is truth. Jesus bore witness to the truth before Pilate: “For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth” (Jn 18:37). He witnessed to the truth of the eternal reality that is God Himself – God who is holy, pure and good.

In turn, Jesus’ disciples witness to the eternal reality of Christ by proclaiming that He is a King of all creation; that all can enter His Kingdom by bowing down before the holiness and glory of God. They witness by accepting Christ’s rule in their lives and serving Him and His people, in that way advancing God’s Kingdom. Until He comes again, Christ has empowered His disciples to build His Kingdom here on earth. As we work to liberate the weak and the powerless, the oppressed and the exploited, Christ’s Kingdom of justice, peace and love is built up among us.

Pope John Paul II taught about our share in the kingship of Christ: “Because the lay faithful belong to Christ, Lord and King of the universe, they share in His kingly ministry and are called by Him to spread the Kingdom in history. They exercise their kingship as Christians, above all in the spiritual combat in which they seek to overcome in themselves the kingdom of sin, and then to make a gift of themselves so as to serve, in justice and in charity, Jesus who is Himself present in all His brothers and sisters, above all in the very least (Christifideles Laici, 14).

Short Prayer: Jesus Christ, King of heaven and earth, I do love You, and I want to love you more and more each day. You are my heart’s deepest desire. I consecrate myself to you today. Come, my King, and make me into the person you want me to be. Amen.

A Christian Pilgrim

KINGSHIP DRAMA

(A biblical refection on the solemnity of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING – Sunday, 25 November 2012)

First Reading: Dan 7:13-14; Psalms: Ps 93:1-2,5; Second Reading: Rev 1:5-8; Gospel Reading: Jn 18:33-37

In 1956 actor Yul Brynner won an Academy Award for his role as the bald autocratic King of Siam in the movie The King and I. The film was based on the musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for Broadway, where Brynner also played the part for a record number of times.

In this musical, the King of Siam imports a British governess to his exotic kingdom to educate his children. At the start they have frequent cultural clashes, but in the end the king and the governess form a true friendship.

Today we recall another king. He is not the king of some country like Siam, but the King of the whole universe – He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In the first reading from the prophet Daniel, our Lord is envisioned as the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven to receive dominion, glory and kingship. In the Gospel from John, Jesus stands trial and is questioned about His kingship by Pilate.

Fr. George MacRae points out in his commentary, Invitation to John, how the evangelist uses theatre techniques to present the drama of Christ’s passion. The stage is set by John as Pilate’s praetorium. The principal actors are Jesus and Pilate.

As John’s Passion Play unfolds, the theme of Christ’s kingship emerges as the central plot. It is the focal point of Pilate’s questions, the cause of our Lord’s mock coronation by the soldiers and the substance of the inscription placed on His cross – Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

As a playwright, John uses irony to great effect. For example, although Jesus is brought to trial before Pilate, it is really Pilate who is being judged. Moreover, although Pilate hands Him over to the lifted up on the cross in ignominy, he sets the stage for Jesus to be lifted up in later glory.

We can’t watch good drama without getting involved. This is all the more true of John’s Passion Play since it is also divinely inspired. Today we stand on the stage in place of Pilate to ask Jesus: “Are you really a King?” And Jesus answers us the same way He did Pilate: “Yes, I am a King. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

In other words, His Kingdom does not depend on military might, economic strength or political power. It is a spiritual Kingdom that depends on faith, prayer and good works. It is not a kingdom that seeks to increase its wealth, expand its borders or inflate its image. It is a Kingdom that promotes peace where there is violence, justice where there is exploitation and freedom where there is oppression.

Will we miss our chance as Pilate did and not take Christ’s kingship seriously? Or will we acknowledge Him as King and join in His causes to protect human rights, relieve poverty and care for the unwanted?

Note: Taken from Albert Cylwicki, CSB, HIS WORD RESOUNDS, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1991, pages 197-198.

Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for November 25, 2012:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega.” (Rev 1:8) Just as God is the Beginning and the End, so your marriage has a beginning (the marriage vows) and an end (death). What’s important is in the middle. Make the middle meaningful today.

Sunday Scripture Study

The Solemnity of Christ the King
(Cycle B)

November 25, 2012

Click here for USCCB readings

Opening Prayer

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14

Psalm: 93:1-2,5

Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8

Gospel Reading: John 18: 33b-37

Instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926, the Solemnity of Christ the King was originally celebrated on the last Sunday in October to foster the awareness of Christ’s dominion over all people and to establish peace among nations. After Vatican Council II the feast was transferred to the last Sunday of the Liturgical year, the Sunday before Advent, on which the human race is consecrated to the Sacred Heart through the Litany of the Sacred Heart and a prayer recited before the Blessed Sacrament.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the procurator (or prefect) of Judea by the Jewish leaders who, out of jealousy, sought to destroy Jesus.

Of all the Gospel accounts, St. John’s gospel gives the longest and fullest account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, emphasizing the majesty of Christ as the Messianic King.

Because he has no interest in becoming embroiled in the religious controversies of the Jews or anybody else, Pilate’s idea of kingship is completely different from that of Jesus. Much like the crowds who wanted to proclaim Jesus a “bread king” (John 6:15), Pilate’s perspective is a worldly one. Even when given a subtle challenge by Jesus to recognize the truth that is standing right before him (verse 37), Pilate delivers his famous rejoinder, “What is truth?” (verse 38)

QUESTIONS:

What reason did the Jewish leaders give Pilate for bringing Jesus to him (verses 33-34)? Why would he take this seriously? How are his fears like those of the Jewish leaders in John 11:48?

What does Jesus tell Pilate about his kingdom (verses 36-37)? Who is included in it? What do you think Pilate meant by his concerns in verse 38? In his pursuit of “truth,” is Pilate trying to absolve himself, or Jesus? Why do you think so?

Since both Peter (John 13:36-38, 18:15-18, 25-27) and Pilate caved into pressure, why do we tend to scorn Pilate, but honor Peter? Do you see any of Pilate’s qualities in yourself?

How does Jesus imply that his kingship is exercised? What do you think it means for one who “belongs to the truth” to “listen to my voice”?

Where do you find Jesus’ kingdom (Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:13-14; Matthew 5:3-10)? How is Jesus your king?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 786, 215-217, 543-553, 557-560, 2471-2472, 908-913

“The kingdom of God does not mean food or drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Truth and justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. That is the kingdom of Christ: the divine activity which saves men and which will reach its culmination when history ends and the Lord comes from the heights of paradise finally to judge men. –St. Josemaria Escriva

How Jesus Describes the Kingdom of Heaven

Pastor’s Column

November 25, 2012

“My kingdom does not belong to this world.”

(from John 18)

What is Jesus’ Kingdom like? Although “through him all things were created,” (Colossians 1), our world appears more to be a mirror-opposite of the kingdom of heaven. If you have any doubts about this, read the beatitudes (in Matthew 5 and Luke 6) closely, for they describe a world that looks very different from the one we inhabit at present.

We all want to go to heaven, but how does Jesus describe it again? It some respects it almost sounds like an alien world! How can we prepare ourselves? What are the greatest assets we will wish to possess in our spirit and our lives before God when we leave this world? If we could only understand what will make us most happy in heaven, we would thank God when these kinds of trials are a part of our earthly life. What are some of those “beatitudes” (meaning “blesseds”) from Matthew 5 again?

Those who have had much sorrow and mourning here will be comforted there and will be called blessed.
The Kingdom of heaven will actually belong to the ones who were poorest in spirit (detached from things in poverty or in their heart).

Peacemakers (as opposed to those who are war-mongers or pick fights with people or cause trouble) will be the ones called the “children of God” there.
Those who will “see God” most clearly and purely will be the clean of heart. This is a virtue not much valued now, but it will be highly treasured in the new world which is coming!
In heaven, those who have shown mercy will receive mercy. Am I merciful in my day-to-day living?
Those who were hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be filled to overflowing with these gifts! What do I hunger and thirst for really?
Those who will receive a “great reward in heaven” will have experienced what we would prefer most to avoid here: being slandered, insulted, and having had any and all kinds of evils done to us for the sake of Christ.

On this Solemnity of Christ the King, it is indeed ironic that many of these least popular character traits in this world will be the most highly valued in the world to come.

Father Gary

St. Paul Center blog

A Royal Truth: Scott Hahn reflects on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Posted by Dr. Scott Hahn on 11.23.12 |

What’s the truth Jesus comes to bear witness to in this last Gospel of the Church’s year?

It’s the truth that in Jesus, God keeps the promise He made to David - of an everlasting kingdom, of an heir who would be His Son, “the first born, highest of the kings of the earth” (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:27-38).

Today’s Second Reading, taken from the Book of Revelation, quotes these promises and celebrates Jesus as “the faithful witness.” The reading hearkens back to Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would “witness to the peoples” that God is renewing His “everlasting covenant” with David (see Isaiah 55:3-5).

But as Jesus tells Pilate, there’s far more going on here than the restoration of a temporal monarchy. In the Revelation reading, Jesus calls Himself “the Alpha and the Omega,” the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. He’s applying to Himself a description that God uses to describe Himself in the Old Testament - the first and the last, the One Who calls forth all generations (see Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12).

Readings:
Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1-2,5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33-37

“He has made the world,” today’s Psalm cries, and His dominion is over all creation (see also John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17). In the vision of Daniel we hear in today’s First Reading, He comes on “the clouds of heaven” - another sign of His divinity - to be given “glory and kingship” forever over all nations and peoples.

Christ is King and His Kingdom, while not of this world, exists in this world in the Church. We are a royal people. We know we have been loved by Him and freed by His blood and transformed into “a Kingdom, priests for His God and Father” (see also Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9).

As a priestly people, we share in His sacrifice and in His witness to God’s everlasting covenant. We belong to His truth and listen to His voice, waiting for Him to come again amid the clouds.

Christ the King -- a Faithful Witness

Christ the King of the Universe

Sunday Word: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112512.cfm

Dn 7: 13-14

Rev 1: 5-8
Jn 18: 33-37

A most famous quote often used but nonetheless so truthful is a simple observation about the effects of power. Lord Acton of England in the 19th century wrote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Unfortunately, history has often shown this to be true. Think of the Roman Emperors, many of whom thought of themselves as divine. The Adolf Hitler's and the Napoleon's who seized power and wielded it through force and fear rather than through a benefit for the common good. Nor can we hide the history of our own Papacy, particularly those of the 1600’s, whose personal morality was anything but stellar: Alexander VI and Leo X to name just two. Earthly power and prestige can be used for good, surely, but when invested too heavily in one person, its power to corrupt is almost inevitable.

Hitler imagined that he would ultimately take over the world and the Third Reich would rule for a thousand years with the power of the super-race. Well, he's gone and we are still here. Long gone are also Roman Emperors who demanded the worship of their citizens.

So, this Sunday, the last week of our liturgical year, we hear of a potentially corruptible title: Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. “King of the Universe” is quite a claim! It is a claim, however, that can only be made by God himself whose power is beyond any earthly force. It is absolute power for which there is no equal. In the Gospel (Jn 18: 33-37) for this Sunday we see a clash of powers between the weak but cunning Pontius Pilate and the mighty Jesus who is far more than he appears on the surface.

The claim for Kingship is the center of the contrast between them. Pilate asks, perhaps with some hesitation: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Such a possibility would strike fear in the heart of Pilate. It would be a challenge to his own efforts to keep the Pax Romana in this backwater location of the Roman Empire.

Jesus’ response puzzles Pilate: “My kingdom does not belong to this world . . .” Pilate cannot imagine another “kingdom” other than an earthly one so he seems to assume that Jesus suffers from a sad case of delusional thinking. “Then, you are a King?” Pilate states sarcastically.

The context of the brief inquiry is telling as well. Here Jesus stands before the authority of Rome. Arrested by the Chief Priests and soldiers about to be scourged and condemned to death. Seemingly helpless and pitiful he truly stands as the book of Revelation tells us in our second reading as the: “. . . faithful witness . . . who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom . . .” Jesus’ kingdom is not one for subjects but for faithful disciples who are called by the witness of their own lives to bear witness to a kingdom of “. . . truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace . . .” (Preface for Christ the King). Jesus’ kingdom is beyond space and time and unlike ancient Rome or any earthly power, his kingdom will never end and its power has no limits. This power does not corrupt but rather brings one to conversion of heart and life.

For those of us who live in this amazing democracy, we shun any allusion to royalty or slavish submission. We have a President, not a King or Queen. We have a balance of power between three branches of government. We have equal rights before law and a system, which at its best, will permit a healthy freedom. Yet, clearly our challenge is to incorporate the morality and values of the spiritual and moral kingdom that Christ brings. Like his clash with Pilate, however, we well know there might be a price to pay in our pursuit to be faithful to the truth as Christ himself bore witness on our behalf.

What “kingdom” is pulling you? What power is ruling over your life? We live in two worlds in a sense – this life and our hope for the next. Yet, if we truly believe Christ is King of the Universe, then our Eucharistic celebrations become a place to stand in adoration and gratitude that his kingdom will not pass away.

Almighty, ever-living God
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of the universe,
grant, we pray, that the whole creation,
set free from slavery,
may render your majesty service
and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.

(Collect for Solemnity)

Fr. Tim

November 25, 2012

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading 1 Dn 7:13-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Daily Readings for: November 25, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

LIBRARY

Solemnity of Christ the King

Meditation: John 18:33-37

KINGSHIP DRAMA

The Solemnity of Christ the King
(Cycle B)

A Royal Truth: Scott Hahn reflects on the Solemnity of Christ the King

November 25, 2012

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading 1 Dn 7:13-14

Responsorial Psalm Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5

Reading 2 Rv 1:5-8

Gospel Jn 18:33b-37

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Daily Readings for: November 25, 2012(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

LIBRARY

Solemnity of Christ the King

Meditation: John 18:33-37

KINGSHIP DRAMA

The Solemnity of Christ the King(Cycle B)

A Royal Truth: Scott Hahn reflects on the Solemnity of Christ the King

Daily Readings for: November 25, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

The Solemnity of Christ the King
(Cycle B)