Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, November 24, 2024

Dear Friends,

This weekend is a significant one in the Liturgical Calendar, because we now wrap up the current Liturgical Year. During Ordinary Time this past year, our Scripture readings have been from Cycle B, in which we delve into the Gospel of St. Mark. In Cycle C for Ordinary Time, which we will begin in 2025 after the Christmas season, the focus will be on the Gospel of St. Luke.

The end of the Liturgical Year is celebrated with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It is, so to say, the crown of the Liturgical Year. Interestingly, the Gospel of John (18: 33b-37) today presents us with the trial scene from Christ’s Passion, when Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?. . . . Then you are a King?” Jesus responds, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus makes a very clear distinction between an earthly king and His divine Kingship. At that time, the Jewish people, including his own disciples, expected Jesus to be a Messiah who would take up arms against the Roman Empire and overthrow them, thereby bringing about God’s reign and restoring the Kingdom of Israel. Like Pilate, who linked king and kingdom with an earthly realm, they could not look beyond their own expectations and perceive, comprehend, and understand Jesus’ true identity, His heavenly origin and the Kingdom He came to establish.

How about us? What is our understanding of Jesus as King? Do we too expect and associate Jesus with the earthly royals who do whatever they want to achieve their goals? Can we bring our thoughts to align with the reality that Jesus is a Servant King, lacking earthly power or glory, that he is not a conqueror or vanquisher or exterminator who will do away with anyone who poses a threat to him? Rather, He is a simple shepherd who wishes to gather everyone into his fold. He also seems to be a very foolish shepherd, who will run after one single straying sheep and not cease to search for that wayward sheep until he finds him.

Pope Francis, in reflecting on the Solemnity of Christ the King at the close of the Holy Year of Mercy in 2016, said:

His kingship is paradoxical: his throne is the cross; his crown is made of thorns; he has no scepter, but a reed is put into his hand; he does not have luxurious clothing, but is stripped of his tunic; he wears no shiny rings on his fingers, but his hands are pierced with nails; he has no treasure, but is sold for thirty pieces of silver   For the grandeur of his kingdom is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things. Christ lowered himself to us out of this love, he lived our human misery, he suffered the lowest point of our human condition: injustice, betrayal, abandonment; he experienced death, the tomb, hell.

I take this opportunity to again thank those who have responded to Our Catholic Appeal 2024. We reached 39% participation after nearly 11 months. This is a great time for those who have not yet participated to give it a shot. All it takes is participation – the amount is not the goal.

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and thank God for His kindness to us and for all He has so generously given us. Gratitude is central to the Gospel message. We are constantly asked to be deeply grateful. In the Gospel passage given to us on Thanksgiving Day, we hear of the 10 lepers who are healed but only one returns to give thanks. Jesus praises this one leper who comes back to thank Him. How often we have been like the 9 other lepers who also are cured but do not think of thanking God? This is what happens when we do not take time to reflect upon the many blessings we have received in our lifes.

Please make it a point to offer the best thanksgiving that you can possibly give to God by stopping by the church and attending Mass on Thanksgiving. There will be two Masses : one on the Eve of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, 27 November at 7 p.m. and another on the Day of Thanksgiving, Thursday, 28 November at 1 0 a.m.

Spoiler Alert: Be prepared for something new starting next Sunday!!!

On behalf of the Deacons and the Staff, I wish you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

I especially want to THANK YOU ALL for the unstinting love and kindness you tirelessly shower upon me. I Thank God for you Every Day!

Be Blessed! With love,

Fr. John