November 21
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
Sat. 4:00 PM – Leonora Stach / Frank & Wilma Frydrychowicz
Sun. 7:30 AM – James Franklin Porter & Janice Litchfield Porter / Mark & Jody Schappert
Sun. 10:30 AM – Olga G. Stirpe / Daughters
Sun. 5:00 PM – Mary Jo Driscoll / David Pida & Leslie Farrand
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Daniel 7:13-14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Second Reading
Revelations 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
Gospel Acclamation
Mark 11:9, 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
John 18:33b-37
Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "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."
“The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.”
Reflection
The kings of this world come and go. We may remember kings for the benevolence shown to subjects or the name they have claimed for themselves through the cruel and unjust way they treated those whom they were to serve.
Today, we celebrate Christ the King! Christ is the only King for whom time has no bounds. The kingdom of Christ is for all time and for all people. We cannot question the benevolence of Christ! He has come to serve all creation.
So, why does the Church end its liturgical year with the celebration of Christ the King? “Historically, this feast was instituted to remind believers that Christ rules over all earthly rulers, kings, presidents, governments, movements, cultures and societies.” Of course, this means that Christ rules over all peoples, including us. It is a day in which we have the opportunity to render praise to the most powerful, most benevolent of Kings, ordained by God the Father for the benefit of all humanity.
We must remember that Christ’s Kingdom is eternal and universal; it is a Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness and grace, a Kingdom of justice, love and peace. Christ demands that we treat each other with justice and love. How do we, as sinners, accomplish such a feat? It is only through a change of heart, guided by Christ that we can truly live in the Kingdom as God the Father intends.
Peace,
Fr. John
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