The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, November 23, 2003
Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

The Solemnity of Christ the King

Scripture from Today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1-2,5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33-37

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we solemnly commemorate and celebrate Jesus Christ, our King! Six hundred years before Jesus, the prophet Daniel had a clear vision of Jesus Christ, coming from heaven to us here on earth. Daniel called that coming an 'everlasting dominion'.

We should reflect on this and it's counterpoint, the attraction of the world as given to us in temptation by the Evil One. We should examine ourselves to see if we have made this material world our surrogate king. Do we greatly cherish the shiny finish of our cars, the gusto of our games, the exquisite flavors of our food, the so-coolness of our computers, our seemingly infinite ability to probe the scientific world, etc ad nauseam?

The devil would like to attract us away from any attention we can give to Jesus. He would even like us to completely forget why we exist. Remember the Baltimore Catechism's definition: 'We were made...to know, to love, to serve God in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven?' Is that the way of the world? Noooo Way!

Jesus was questioned by Pilate: 'So, then, you are a king?'
Jesus answered:

It is you who say I am a king.
The reason I was born,
the reason why I came into the world,
is to testify to the truth.
Anyone committed to the truth hears my voice.

The Book of Revelation tells us today that the Lord will come amid the clouds and that 'every eye shall see him.' O Lord, I pray that you will come to us soon and manifest your goodness, mercy, justice and power to this ungrateful world. Father, may your Holy Spirit come upon us in these last days to enlighten us and show us the error of our ways. May we repent of our sins, amend our ways and give glory to You in prayer and in deed all the days of our lives.

-Joachim

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posted by joachim at 4:50 AM