Solemnity of Christ the King (c)
This Week’s Liturgy Calendar.
Ordinary Season of the Year. (c)
Weekdays – Year 2
Sunday 20th November: Solemnity of Christ the King. (c)
The first reading is from the 2nd Book of Samuel. The people want David to be their king and shepherd. He is at the same time ‘of their own flesh and blood’ and close to God. In this, he is a pale image of Jesus.
The second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a great hymn of praise. Paul gives thanks to the Father that we have a place in the kingdom of Jesus, thanks to his death on the cross.
The Gospel from Saint Luke reminds that by his death on the cross, Jesus became not only the King of the Jews but also the king of everyone who accepts him, even of outcasts. The people, however, must make a choice – for or against him.
Monday 21st November: Memorial of the Presentation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
This feast goes back to 543 when a church, built near the Temple in Jerusalem, was dedicated to Our Lady. The feast helps reminds us of Our Lady’s dedication to God from her earliest years. According to an early Christian tradition, she was taken to the Temple as a child to be offered to the service of God.
Tuesday 22nd November: Memorial of St. Cecilia.
All that we know, with any certainty, about St. Cecilia is that she was a Roman lady who lived in the third century and founded a church which is named after her. A legend has been woven around her life and supposed martyrdom. According to one incident in that legend, she sang to God as she was being executed for her faith. This has resulted in her being name the patroness of all musicians. We ask her prayers today for all those who enhance the Church’s worship by music and song.
Wednesday 23rd November: Wednesday of 34th week of the year.
We are given another vision of heaven, this time in terms of a sea of glass with flames passing through it. Those who were martyred, those who persevered are the ones who sing the great hymn of praise.
In the Gospel, the theme of perseverance is also stressed. It is through persevering in spite of all the challenges and difficulties that the followers of Jesus will emerge victorious
Thursday 24th November: Memorial of St. Andrew Dung Lac and Companions.
117 martyrs in this group were martyred when Christians in Vietnam were persecuted from 1625 to 1886. Although they all died at different times, they were canonised at the same time by Pope John Paul II in June 1988. Of the group, 96 were Vietnamese. Andrew Dung-Lac is a diocesan priest and he is one of the group who was specifically mentioned. He was beheaded in 1839
Friday 25th November: Friday of 34th week of the year.
The power of Satan is being chained and confined to the abyss (hell). The souls of the just are brought into the presence of the Lord. Their names will be written in the Book of Life. We will have written our own destiny by the lives we have led. This final part of the Book of the Apocalypse opens with the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, the setting of the new Jerusalem.
The Kingdom is in the process of establishing itself St. Luke tells us and we should use nature and its cycle to help us see this.
Saturday 26th November: Saturday of 34th week of the year.
We reach the end of the Book of the Apocalypse and the end of the Church’s year. We are given another description of heaven, this time more understandable. There will be no more evil, only good things. The Lord will be a light to all.
For the past few days, we have been listening to the preaching of Jesus just before his arrest and crucifixion. We are told to watch and pray, to stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Hail Redeemer, King Divine,
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine,
King whose name creation thrills
Rule our minds our hearts our wills.
Angels, saints and nations sing,
Praised be Jesus Christ our King,
Lord of Life, earth, sky and sea,
King of Love on Calvary.
