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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 11-20-11, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 11-20-11 | New American Bible

Posted on 11/19/2011 8:52:26 PM PST by Salvation

November 20, 2011

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King

 

Reading 1 Ez 34:11-12, 15-17

Thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend my sheep.
I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered
when it was cloudy and dark.
I myself will pasture my sheep;
I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.
The lost I will seek out,
the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal,
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,
shepherding them rightly.

As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD,
I will judge between one sheep and another,
between rams and goats.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
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 everything is subjected to him,
then the Son himself will also be subjected
to the one who subjected everything to him,
so that God may be all in all.

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by 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,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
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,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; christ; king; prayer
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To: annalex


The saints to the left of Christ and the condemned departing

In line with traditional thinking, the dead have all risen at the age of 33, Christ's age when he died. The damned souls among them, crying out in despair, move of their own accord toward the fiery mouth of Hell. The limbs of the angular nude figures, still very Gothic in concept, create a complex interlocking pattern. (ibid.)

41 posted on 11/20/2011 9:13:48 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex


The blessed entering Heaven

42 posted on 11/20/2011 9:14:18 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex


The condemned entering hell

43 posted on 11/20/2011 9:14:44 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex


The reverse

The reverse of the panels of the polyptych depict the donors. Nicolas Rolin is an old man, whose nose is too long and whose hair has been cut short. Guigonne de Salins lowers her eyes and gestures with her joined hands towards her book of hours; on her head she wears a starched net veil. Behind each of them, an angel is carrying a shield emblazoned with their respective coats-of-arms. Rolin is facing towards an elegant imitation statue of St Sebastian executed in grey tint, as if carved from marble. His wife is looking towards another imitation statue, this time of St Anthony, who is accompanied by a young pig. (Ibid).

44 posted on 11/20/2011 9:15:23 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex

These paintings are absolutely amazing.


45 posted on 11/20/2011 4:10:07 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Catholic
Almanac:
Sunday, November 20
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.

46 posted on 11/20/2011 4:12:05 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: November 20, 2011
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty and merciful God, you break the power of evil and make 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.

Ordinary Time: November 20th

  Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus 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. Gandas

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.

47 posted on 11/20/2011 4:15:30 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
The Word Among Us

Meditation: Matthew 25:31-46

Christ the King

When the Son of Man comes in his glory … (Matthew 25:31)

Today is the last Sunday in the church year. So it’s appropriate to reflect on the end of time, on judgment, and on the life to come. These topics can fill us with a number of positive thoughts and a few fearful ones. In our anxious moments, we may worry about whether we or our loved ones will get into heaven. We may worry about death itself or what we will actually be doing for all eternity in heaven.

In our more positive moments, we are probably filled with hope and expectation. We trust that the Second Coming will be great. We can’t wait to live in a place where there are no wars, poverty, or sickness. We believe that heaven is a far better place than this world, and we greatly look forward to a life filled with peace and happiness.

Thinking about the Second Coming can also help remind us of a key truth of our faith: We cannot save ourselves. Only Jesus can do that —and he did, when he died on the cross for us. But isn’t it ironic that while we cannot save ourselves, God will still judge us based on how we have loved one another and cared for the poor and needy around us? How is that possible?

The truth is, our acts of love and charity should be a direct consequence of our realization that Jesus, our King, loves us. The experience of Jesus’ love should send us to our knees in worship, and it should send us out into the world, eager to spread that love to everyone we come in contact with —our loved ones, the needy, and even our enemies.

So as we contemplate our loving, merciful King today, let’s ask him to inspire us to serve his kingdom. And whenever we perform acts of charity, let’s see them as a way that we can give our hearts back to Jesus, who gave himself for us.

“Jesus, give me a generous heart. Teach me how to open my heart — and my hands —to everyone around me.”


Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalm 23:1-3,5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28; Matthew 25:31-46)

1. In the first reading, God describes himself as a shepherd watching over us, his flock. He also promises to rescue the scattered, seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, and heal the sick. While less and less of us today can relate to this pastoral metaphor, we can nevertheless still be touched by the degree of care expressed by God toward us. As a Catholic man or woman, how has God called you to be a “shepherd,” e.g., in your family, in serving others, in a church ministry, etc.? How would you describe your role? In what way is it to mirror God’s care for you?

2. The responsorial psalm continues the metaphor of the “Lord is my shepherd” and once again describes his great care for his sheep. Since we as Catholics are one of the sheep being described, how faithful are you in allowing Jesus to guide you in “right paths”? What needs to change?

3. In the second reading, St. Paul describes Christ as risen and reigning. What specific steps could you take to increase the risen Christ’s reign in your heart, in your family, or where you work?

4. In the Gospel, Christ lets us know exactly the things that are important to him at his second coming. Of course, we all want to be the sheep on his right and not the goats on his left. We all want to hear these words from Jesus, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Which two of the actions that he describes for the sheep on his right are you willing to commit to in the upcoming weeks, and perhaps as Advent and Christmas promises?

5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “The truth is, our acts of love and charity should be a direct consequence of our realization that Jesus, our King, loves us. The experience of Jesus’ love should send us to our knees in worship, and it should send us out into the world, eager to spread that love to everyone we come in contact with—our loved ones, the needy, and even our enemies.” St. Paul says that “the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died” (2 Corinthians 5:14). To what extent does your experience of Christ’s love “impel” you to reach out to others less fortunate than you? What steps can you take to open yourself up to a deeper experience of Christ’s love?

6. Take some time now to pray for a generous heart that desires to serve the Lord and to be his instrument in serving others. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.


48 posted on 11/20/2011 4:25:33 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
A Christian Pilgrim

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR KING 

(A biblical reflection on the SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, 20 November 2011) 

Gospel Reading: Mt 25:31-46 

First Reading: Ezek 34:11-12,15-17; Psalms: Ps 23:1-3,5-6; Second Reading: 1Cor 15:20-26,28 


The Scripture Text

“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 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.” (Mt 25:31-46 RSV) 

The Holy Scripture is rich in the imagery it uses to unveil Jesus Christ: He is Lord, Servant, Master, Friend, Teacher, Prophet, Healer, and many more. There is a wonderful depth to the Person and mission of Christ which the Holy Spirit longs to reveal to those who seek it. It is like the delight of an experienced jeweller who finds a prize diamond; like the joy of a new bride who cherishes every moment spent with her beloved. Today the Church invites us to reflect on yet another aspect of Jesus’ nature as we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It means that today we celebrate Jesus Christ as the sovereign King enthroned at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

We also look forward to His further glorification after the Last Judgment. At that time, people from every nation under heaven will acknowledge His sovereignty and rejoice in His power. Jesus’ kingdom has no end! The whole world will be silent before Him and His judgments. He is the magnificent, unequivocal King of glory and the Ruler of all creation!

Although He is portrayed as a King, Jesus is neither haughty nor pompous. His kingship is tied intrinsically to the humble image of the Good Shepherd (see Mt 25:32). Jesus’ roles as a king ruling with great authority and a shepherd filled with gentle compassion are not contradictions or mutually exclusive. They are one and the same thing!

Throughout salvation history, YHWH revealed Himself as the faithful shepherd of His people (Gen 49:24; Ps 23:1; Is 40:11). He promised to find His lost sheep and heal them, to feed them with justice (Ezek 34:11-16). YHWH – the Father of Israel – fulfilled His promise by sending Jesus, who conquered our hearts through love, not power. Even so, the humble Christ is rightfully called KING; He defeated death, and all creation is subject to Him (1Cor 15:26,28). Jesus is King precisely because He rules with compassion. It is His very compassion and mercy that make Him King and ruler of all creation. There is no other who deserves our worship. Given these characteristics of Christ the King, what else can we do but bow down before Him? What else can we do but let Him lead us with Hir rod and His staff? Thus, together with Psalmist we gratefully declare: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps 23:1).

As our King, Jesus calls us to obey His law of love. Based on this law, He will require an accounting from us at the end of time: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Mat 25:40). How do we fulfil this law of love? Our own standards might leave us as bewildered as the goats in the parable. We must begin by humbly asking the King to reign in our hearts. For this reason, we come to the table of the Lord confessing: “Lord, I am not worthy …… Only say the word and I shall be healed.” As we receive Jesus’ love for us into our hearts, we are empowered to serve others. If we receive openly, we can give generously.

Let us seek the green pastures of the Shepherd, and allow Him to fill our cup to overflowing. Then, at our journey’s end, when Christ reigns over all creation, He will deliver us to the Father through the Spirit. He will commend us at last into the unity of the Trinity, saying: “Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34).

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, I adore You as my King! I am thankful that You protect me, care for me, and hear me when I call You. Grant me Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life. May I dwell with You in Your Kingdom forever! Amen.


49 posted on 11/20/2011 4:45:49 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

The Problem With Hippos

Pastor’s Column

Our Lord Christ the King

November 20, 2011

 

          There was an interesting story in the paper about a man who had raised a hippo, almost from birth.  Even as this wild animal grew, he fed it and cared for it, and considered it to be a “friend.”  He was also warned that this animal remained wild.  As it grew, it began raiding neighbors’ crops and causing mischief.  Eventually, as hippos are prone to do, he turned on his “friend” and mauled him to death without any provocation.         

          This story is almost like a parable, isn’t it?  We cannot really make friends with sin and expect to come out of the encounter alive.  We may have a relationship with our “friend” for a long time; but, true to its nature, sin will eventually turn on us and destroy us if we do not deal with it adequately. 

          Jesus teaches us that at the last judgment, many will be caught by surprise, even those of us who hear and try to follow this gospel (Mt 25:31-46).  One of the things we don’t realize is that sin comes in two forms.  Sins of commission are those we do, like lying or stealing.  Sins of omission are those that we ought to have done and failed to do.  And this is precisely what is so startling about the last judgment: Jesus will base it on what we failed to do. 

          Jesus makes it so easy for us!  He tells us in advance that we are in the middle of a timed test (our lifetime) and what the correct answers are.  The key is that we don’t know how long our individual test will be (ending on the day of our death), nor do we know which disguises Jesus will wear today when we meet him, but we do have hints. 

          What hints?  Jesus tells us that if you gave a coat to the coat closet, he was the recipient; if you are patient with a relative or friend over Thanksgiving, that was him too;  if you ever held a door open for someone or let them go in front of you in line at the store checkout line, that was Jesus.  The test of our faith and our love is precisely this: how did we treat the ordinary people in need around us?  No one is expendable in God’s eyes.  Every person we encounter, no matter how flawed, is Jesus in disguise.  These are the components of our test and this is where the sins of omission come from! 

Like the unfortunate man with the hippo, we can kid ourselves for a long time that we don’t have a potential problem in our lives.  Fortunately, the Lord gives us lots of warnings about how to deal with the dangerous hippos we may be “friends” with and is always ready to forgive us when we fail.

                                                                    Father Gary


50 posted on 11/20/2011 5:22:23 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Sunday Scripture Study

Solemnity of Christ The King - Cycle A

November 20, 2011

Click here for USCCB readings

Opening Prayer  

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

Psalm: 23:1-3,5-6

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

  • This Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year; next Sunday begins Advent, the penitential season of waiting and expectation.
  • Jesus’ three preceding parables about being prepared (Matthew 24: 42-51; 25:1-13; 25:14-30) are completed by his announcement of the Final Judgment at the end of time when he will sit on his throne and judge the nations, that is, all men (see Ezekiel 34:17-20; Daniel 7:9-14; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:11-15).
  • Christ identifies himself with those in need and all are judged and rewarded by him by how they ministered to him through them (Matthew 16:16-27; Romans 2:6-11). Faith alone is not the basis—in fact faith is not mentioned here or in the preceding parables.
  • Jesus himself also makes it clear that both heaven and hell are very real—and eternal.

QUESTIONS:

  • In the 1st Reading, the Lord is depicted as a Good Shepherd who tends the weak among his flock. He is also portrayed, however, as a just judge. Upon what is his judgment based (see Ezekiel 34:17-24)?
  • In the 2nd Reading, St. Paul describes how he and his fellow evangelists have spent themselves in the service of the Gospel. What, surprisingly, is his own response to this? Would that be your reaction in a similar situation?
  • List the six actions Jesus will use as a basis of judgment. What kinds of acts are these? For whom are they done now and ultimately (verse 40)? How do they benefit the doer?
  • How are those who don’t do the acts and those that do them similar? Different?
  • In this reading and those of the last few weeks, how were Jesus and his opponents different in actions and attitudes? Is the judgment note of these readings consistent with your view of Jesus? Why or why not?
  • What do these readings teach about Christian responsibility? Who are “these least brothers of mine”?
  • When have you been hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothes, sick or imprisoned, and someone reached out to you? How did it feel?
  • In the six areas noted by Jesus, where do you feel yourself serving most naturally? In which areas do you have the most trouble reaching out?
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 544, 668-682, 1038-1041, 1503, 2443-2449, 2463

We have, I admit, a rigorous account to give of our sins; but who will be our judge?  The Father...has given all judgment to the Son.  Let us be comforted: the eternal Father has placed our cause in the hands of our Redeemer Himself.  St. Paul encourages us, saying, ‘Who is [the judge] who is to condemn us?  It is Jesus Christ, who died...who indeed intercedes for us’ (Romans 8:34).  It is the Savior Himself, who, in order that He should not condemn us to eternal death, has condemned Himself to death for our sake, and who, not content with this, still continues to intercede for us in Heaven with God His Father. 

-St. Alphonsus Liguori


51 posted on 11/20/2011 5:28:18 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Sunday: The Royal Call of the King
 
"Come blessed by my Father . . ."

Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17
1 Cor 15: 2-, 26, 28
Mt 25: 31-46
The name of the English literary character Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with the ultimate in investigative reporting – the effort to solve a murder mystery.  Like most investigators, Mr. Holmes makes every effort to leave no stone unturned. He will question witnesses, examine evidence and never stop until he has come to a conclusion about who committed this terrible crime.  He relentlessly pursues the truth in order to bring closure and find the guilty party.
Often, when he claims he has come to a definitive conclusion as to who the guilty one is, he will gather around him the alleged suspects.  He then begins to tell them how he has come to his final conclusion by reviewing the evidence each of them provided.  As he goes around the circle of seated witnesses, he begins a process of elimination by proclaiming innocent each of the parties involved until he finally comes to the guilty one.  Around the circle he goes:  “innocent, innocent, innocent, and then guilty!”

As we celebrate this Solemn Feast of Christ the King this weekend and close our liturgical year, next weekend’s First Sunday of Advent holds particular significance as the new English translation of the Mass is officially adopted throughout the English speaking world – a very good number of people, numbering in the millions, will now be praying together with one voice at our Eucharist celebrations.  In that same image of the Church united in worship, we find that the Gospel scene of the sheep and the goats may provide us with a good clue similar to the process that old Sherlock used.
The scene in Matthew’s Gospel is one of a vast number of witnesses who stand before the Shepherd King in order to be judged on the level of their innocence or guilt. However, these are not witnesses to a crime.  They are all those who have heard the call of the Shepherd and proclaim to be witnesses to all that Jesus taught.
The scene reminds us that like both sheep and goats, we were scattered and lost before the coming of Christ. In the coming of Christ among us, we see that we have a God who relentlessly pursues us not as suspects in a crime but as those he wants to gather to himself.  In Jesus we see that God has come to us to gather together in one family the lost, the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the stranger and all who find themselves alienated from God. He shows us “the way” to find him and how we as humans should relate to each other as brothers and sisters gathered together not as strangers but as friends. He wants to proclaim our innocence through his own forgiveness and mercy.  
Very clearly the first reading from Ezekiel states about this gathering God: “As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep . . .” (Ez. 34: 11-12). The beautiful image is that of a caring shepherd who searches out his sheep and brings them together as one under his careful watch. So, it is in the Church and so it is with this Shepherd King.
We have heard the last few Sunday’s that Christ will indeed return to this earth at some moment in human history. The last few Sunday’s have reminded us of this in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Mt 25: 1-13) and that of the talents (Mt. 25: 14-30).  It could be tomorrow or 40 million years from now. Like that relentless detective, he will return to the scene of the event in order to finally make a judgment upon all the suspects.  How truthful were they?  How loyal to the facts they presented? It is interesting that Matthew uses the example of sheep and goats to portray the believers of Christ.
Sheep are not as unintelligent as we may imagine. They care for their young, they will defend their own when they feel threatened, they recognize their shepherd’s voice and will follow. In the end they are obedient to the call
Goats, on the other hand, are notoriously stubborn.  They are unruly, they care little for their own and basically act on their own behalf with little concern for the others.
We hear that final judgment will come upon us, then, by how compassionate, merciful, self-sacrificing, obedient, and Christ- like we have been to the least of those among us. For this Shepherd King is not distant from his flock – he is within the hearts of all who have heard his voice and there we bring upon ourselves his judgment. 
In the end, the righteous are marked not by degrees or enormous checking accounts but by compassion, mercy, empathy, and acceptance towards the “least of my brothers" (sisters included here).  Not only because it is right and good to help our fellow brother and sister but because in doing so, we are doing the same for Christ himself.  This Shepherd King lives within the hearts of all believers in a personal presence and intimacy that no other religious leader in history has ever or can ever claim. In serving one another in that selfless spirit of generosity and sacrifice, we are imitating Christ Jesus himself and we are in fact serving Christ himself.
How prepared am I to meet this sleuthing God who searches us out more than we search for him.  He calls, he watches, he cares for us in a relentless effort to gather us to himself.  What side do I stand on?  Am I to the right or to the left?
Almighty and merciful God,
you break the power of evil
and make all things new
in your Son, Jesus Christ, the King of the universe.
May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory
Fr. Tim

52 posted on 11/20/2011 5:41:06 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Insight Scoop

Jesus Christ, Shepherd and King

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King | Carl E. Olson

Readings:
• Ez 34:11-12, 15-17
• Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
• 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28
• Mt 25:31-46

The young man walks down a long but gentle slope into the setting sun. Trailing behind him is a large flock of animals, white and black. When he reaches the valley floor, he turns and faces them. As each animal approaches him, he taps it on the side of the head with his staff. The white sheep steadily make their way off to the right, while the black goats, far more frisky, go off to the left. But the goats, despite being more energetic, will need to be kept warm during the night; the sheep will be kept in the open air, which they prefer.

This routine has been followed in many parts of the Middle East for thousands of years, just one aspect of a way of life mentioned numerous times in Scripture. There are hundreds of references in throughout the Old and New Testaments to sheep, goats, and shepherds. Today’s reading from the prophet Ezekiel is an example of how the work of shepherding was employed to reveal truths about the relationship between God and the chosen people. It also appeals to an ancient connection between the Shepherd and the King, a relationship rooted in David and brought to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel writes of God as the Shepherd who tends his sheep, seeks those that are scattered and lost, and provides food and rest for his flock. All of these images were taken up by Jesus in various discourse and parables (cf., Matt. 18:12-13; Lk 15:3-10: Jn 10). But in addition to care and protection, there is the reality of possible separation and judgment: “I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.” And a few verses later this judgment is connected to the promise of a new David:

“I will save my flock, they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ez 34:22-23).

It is Jesus Christ, of course, who is this new shepherd. And, like David, he is also a king. But, unlike David, his kingship is perfect and extends over all men and nations. Matthew’s Gospel highlights this fact by having pagans announce, even unwittingly, the kingship of Jesus, as when the magi ask for the baby “born king of the Jews” (Matt 2:2), when Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?" (Matt. 27:11), and when a sign is placed above the Crucified Lord stating, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (Matt. 27:37). But at the end of time the stunning reality of this kingship will be revealed for all to see: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne…”—the throne of David (Lk. 1:32).

Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical (Quas primas, December 1925) establishing the Feast of Christ the King, stated the feast should remind nations, rulers, and princes that they “are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ.” He told Catholics that Christ is to reign in our minds, wills, hearts, and bodies, so that those who are outside the fold will seek entrance due to our witness, while we who are within “the household of the faith, may bear that yoke, not as a burden but with joy, with love, with devotion; that having lived our lives in accordance with the laws of God's kingdom…” (par. 33).

The parable of the sheep and the goats is not simply about being good or avoiding sin. We are not called to be just philanthropists, but true children of God. We are called to die to ourselves, to live in Christ, and to be subject, in love and by grace, to the King, so that “God may be all in all.”

The Shepherd and King stands before us, staff in hand…

(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in the November 23, 2008, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)


53 posted on 11/20/2011 6:14:58 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Marriage = One Man and One Woman
Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for November 20, 2011:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…(Mt 25:35-36) Which works of mercy do you already do?  As a couple?


54 posted on 11/20/2011 6:24:29 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Regnum Christi

Sheep and Goats
INTERNATIONAL | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Nov. 20, 2011)

November 20, 2011
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ´Come, you who are blessed by 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, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.´ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ´Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?´ And the king will say to them in reply, ´Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.´ Then he will say to those on his left, ´Depart from me, you accursed, 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, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.´ Then they will answer and say, ´Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?´ He will answer them, ´Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.´ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this chance to spend time with you in prayer. You are the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Mercy. I trust in your goodness and love. I love you and earnestly long to love you more each day.

Petition: Lord, help me to translate my faith in you into good deeds done for others.

1. Judgment Day: All of our life is, in a sense, a preparation for the judgment we face at life´s end. That is when we go before Our Lord and give account for everything we have done or failed to do. No excuses will be accepted, no more "second chances" given. Jesus´ mercy doesn’t mean he ignores justice. "Mercy differs from justice, but is not in opposition to it," wrote Pope John Paul II in his 1980 encyclical, Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy). Would I be ready to face the Lord this very day? If not, why not? What facet of my life do I need to change right now?

2. The Sheep: The sheep to be saved are the people who helped others, who showed mercy, who didn´t turn a cold shoulder to someone in need. Our Lord doesn´t praise them for their many prayers so much as for their good deeds. Prayer is important, of course. But it´s not enough. Christ wants our love for him to be reflected in our love for others. Oddly, many of those to be saved will not have realized that it was really Christ they were helping. Do I see Christ in those who need help? Do I see Christ in my family members? My co-workers? The demanding boss? The unpopular classmate? The smelly beggar?

3. The Goats: It´s scary to think that those who will be lost were not necessarily "bad people." In this passage Our Lord doesn´t chide them for doing wicked things. He doesn´t accuse them of starting wars or peddling drugs or committing acts of terrorism. Rather, he faults them for the sin of omission, for things they didn´t do. "You gave me no food …. You gave me no clothing." We may think ourselves good Christians because we don´t cheat on our taxes or look at pornography or miss Mass on Sundays. But acts of charity are key, too. We should do these without neglecting the others.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I don´t want to end up with the goats at the Last Judgment. That´s why I want to take my faith seriously. I want to have a generous heart. But do I limit my generosity? Why can´t I see you in X? You have loved me unconditionally. Help me to respond to your love by loving others unconditionally.

Resolution: Before noon, I will perform one small act of charity for someone close to me.


55 posted on 11/20/2011 6:26:33 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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They Are Us!

November 19th, 2011 by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Mt 25:31-46

There was a brand new president at the local university and he was known as a brilliant scholar and intellectual.  When he started appearing at one of the local churches on Sundays, the pastor was anxious to impress him in hopes that he’d join the parish. And so, week after week the pastor worked for hours preparing brilliant sermons replete with scholarly quotations and important insights.  Eventually, the president joined the parish, and the pastor just couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Sir, could you tell me which one of my sermons finally persuaded you to join our parish.”

With a puzzled expression, the president replied, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. A little old lady in the back row made me feel so much at home by telling me how she missed me when I wasn’t here. That’s why I joined the parish.”

+            +            +

The little things, done with love, make all the difference. Laid end to end, they can add up to a powerfully good life. If you doubt that, look at Mother Teresa.

That’s what Jesus is telling us today. He’s summing up all his teaching and giving us the bottom line: “If you want to have life now and in the hereafter,” he says, “you’ve got to use what God has given you, and use it to take care of his people. Nothing else makes matters. Nothing less will do.

“Staying out of trouble is good,” he says, “but it isn’t enough. You’ve got to DO something for God’s people: Feed the hungry, comfort the sick, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison.”

Those are Jesus’ ultimate criteria for success or failure in life. So how are we doing? With the folks far away, many of us are doing fairly well: with generous checks, volunteer work, and prayers. But have we noticed the prisoners, the sick, the hungry, and the naked who are closer at hand? They’re right here, in this church, in our families and schools. They’re across the bridge table from us and across the desk from us: God’s hurting, hungry people, whose spirits are starving, or trapped, or stripped naked by life’s cruel turns.

They’re all around us. As Pogo would say, they are us!  And each one of us has something to give them, some part of our selves that they need, to be healed, to break free, to grow up, or just to survive another day. They are right here, and they need us now.

And so we need to pray: May God give us hearts as tender as his own, to see his hurting people, to embrace them, and not to turn away. May God give us great hearts that give our all and hold nothing back!


56 posted on 11/20/2011 6:34:59 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Sunday, November 20, 2011 >> Christ the King
Saint of the Day
 
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

View Readings
Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6
Matthew 25:31-46

 

RIGHT

 
Jesus "will sit upon His royal throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him. Then He will separate them into two groups." —Matthew 25:31-32
 

When Christ the King returns in glory at the end of the world and on Judgment Day, we will hear King Jesus say to us one of the following two statements (Mt 25:31). Those whom King Jesus has placed at His right hand will hear the words: "Come. You have My Father's blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world" (Mt 25:34). Those whom King Jesus has placed on His left will hear the words: "Out of My sight, you condemned, into that everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" (Mt 25:41)

To be on King Jesus' right, to inherit His kingdom, we must:

  • be "begotten of water and Spirit" (Jn 3:5),
  • "seek first His kingdom over us and His way of righteousness" (Mt 6:33, our transl),
  • love the Lord with all our hearts (Lk 10:27) and practically express our love for the poor, the hungry and thirsty, the refugees and strangers, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned (Mt 25:35ff),
  • love the Church (Eph 5:25) and be submissive to her authority, for Jesus has entrusted to the Pope and the Church the keys of His kingdom (Mt 16:19), and
  • give everything for His kingdom (Mt 13:44, 46).

By God's grace, make the decisions necessary for Jesus to place you on His right. Inherit the kingdom.

 
Prayer: King Jesus, I submit my life to You. Come back very soon!
Promise: "Christ must reign until God has put all enemies under His feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death." —1 Cor 15:25-26
Praise: Praise Jesus, risen King of kings and Lord of lords! Praise God! Praise You, King Jesus, victorious, triumphant, and enthroned. Alleluia!

57 posted on 11/20/2011 6:40:41 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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The Judge is the King of Hearts

November 16th, 2011 by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

On the final Sunday in the liturgical year, it is time to remember things that we’d prefer to forget. For starters, we recall that there is an infinite qualitative difference between us and God. He is immortal and infinite. We are not. Each one of us will come to our individual end. But so will our society, our world, even our universe.

Another thing to call to mind on this day is that while the Son of God came the first time in a way both lowly and hidden, he will come one day in a way both public and glorious. Yes, he is the Lamb of God. But He is also the Lion of Judah. He takes away the sin of those who let him. But he is also will bring things hidden in darkness into the light, call a spade a spade, and insist that all bear the consequences of their choices.

That is what any judge does. And he will come in glory, says the creed, to judge the living and the dead.

But what will the Last Judgment be like? By what criteria will we be judged?

Only one passage in the Gospels provides a sneak preview of that day of reckoning–Matthew 25:31-46. First of all, note that most of Jesus’ parables have a jarring punch-line. He’s always upsetting the preconceived notions of just about everyone, especially the most religious of the bunch, whether they be Pharisees or disciples.

Clearly, all of us expect that the Judge will condemn evil and impose sentence on the guilty. And we tend to think of evildoing as stepping over the line and infringing on the rights of others, taking their possessions, maybe even taking their lives. The language of the Our Father lends itself to this interpretation of sin when it says “forgive us our trespasses.”

The problem with this understanding of sin is that it is incomplete, even shallow. Lots of people think that as long as they don’t lie, cheat, and steal, but just keep to themselves and mind their own business, they deserve big rewards from God.

The story of the Last Judgment addresses these “decent folks.” Imagine their shock as they swagger smugly up to the judge’s bench expecting praise only to be sent off to eternal punishment! Why? Because they neglected to do the good that love required them to do. They did not “commit” offenses or infractions of the law; they did nothing positively destructive. It’s just that, in the presence of suffering, they heartlessly did absolutely nothing. Their sin was not a sin of “commission” but a sin of “omission.” But note–these sins of omission ultimately seal the fate of the damned.

There are lots of negative commandments, often expressed as “thou shalt nots.” But the two most important commandments are positive “thou shal’s.” “You shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and strength and you shall love thy neighbor as yourself.” These commandments require an interior disposition that naturally produces outward actions. If you are hungry, you love yourself enough to go to the fridge or drive to McDonald’s. If you truly love your hungry neighbor as yourself, you don’t just say a prayer and offer sympathy (James 2:15-17). Loving God with all your heart doesn’t mean giving a respectful nod to God and then going on your merry way. It means going out of your way, passionately seeking to love him and serve him in all that you do.

In this Last Judgment scene we see how these two commandments, these two loves, are really one. Jesus makes clear that loving God with your whole heart is expressed in loving your neighbor as yourself. And whenever you love your neighbor in this way, you are actually loving the Son of God.

So ultimately, the judgment is simple. It all comes down to love. The judge happens to be the King of Hearts.

This was originally published in Our Sunday Visitor as a reflection upon the readings for the 34rd Sunday of the Year, the Feast of Christ the King, liturgical cycle A (Ezek 34:11-17, Psalm 23, I Cor 15:20-28; Mt 25:31-46). It is reprinted here with the permission of the author.

Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He now directs www.crossroadsinitiative.com, which offers Catholic resources for RCIA and adult and teen faith formation, with a special emphasis on the Eucharist, the Theology of the Body, the early Church Fathers, and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

(This article originally appeared in Our Sunday Visitor and is used by permission of the author.)



58 posted on 11/20/2011 6:44:26 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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obamacare,healthcare,politics,satire

59 posted on 11/20/2011 6:45:17 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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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 16th 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."


60 posted on 11/20/2011 7:00:37 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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