Christ the King The Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2021

                                                              Christ the King

The Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2021

November 21, 2021

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Daniel 7:13-4; Psalm 93; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37

 

Today is a reminder that we live in two worlds – the world that is here and now, and the world that is to come. A Christian must be comfortable living in both worlds, and to find goodness in each world, even though there will be conflict. Pilate represents an aspect of the passing world that searches for its own truth; Jesus presents believers with a truth that endures. We believers must make peace with both worlds so that our choices align for today’s common good and tomorrow’s eternal blessings.

 

Jesus instructs us to be in harmony with the world around, including civic leaders and politicians, and urges us to love our enemies. Paul later urged us to co-exist in harmony with influential rulers so that we preserve the bonds of friendship among the faithful. In the face of mob opposition that handed Jesus over to Pilate, he largely remained silent, knowing that God sees the truth that does not always have to be spoken.

 

Christians need to be clever to exist in this world with an eye to the next. We do so by developing our friendship with Jesus in prayer, wrestling with his teachings, and remaining in communion with his friends. It is not helpful to adopt a hostile tone to those with whom we disagree. That is not loving. It does not serve any good to stand against the culture of the world for we live in it and can transform it through our good lives. We are to make friends with the rulers of this world because showing kindness and compassion will do far better than divisive, harsh words or rigid stances.

 

Today’s message is to stay close to Jesus and to realize he is the one who makes sense and gives meaning to our lives. No one on this earth can save us, but Jesus. We cannot save ourselves from ourselves. Jesus is the one we can turn to because he understands human suffering and the love of God at the same time. He wants to show us God’s love, a love that is more remarkable than we can imagine, a love that can transform our lives, a love that will bring close to our loved ones for eternity, a love that we all seek. Only in Jesus is our soul at rest.

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

 

Monday: (Daniel 1) King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God; he carried them off to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.

 

Tuesday: (Daniel 2) Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: “In your vision, O king, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright, terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.

 

Wednesday: (Daniel 5) Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.

 

Thursday: (Sirach 50) And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you.

 

Friday (Daniel 7) In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others.

 

Saturday (Daniel 7) These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 21) When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

 

 

Tuesday: (Luke 21) Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

 

Wednesday (Luke 21) “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony.

 

Thursday (Luke 17) They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

 

Friday (Luke 21) Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.

 

Saturday (Luke 21) Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.

 

Saints of the Week

 

November 21: The Presentation of Mary originated as a feast in 543 when the basilica of St. Mary's the New in Jerusalem was dedicated. The day commemorate the event when Mary's parent brought her to the Temple to dedicate her to God. The Roman church began to celebrate this feast in 1585.

 

November 22: Cecilia, martyr (2nd or 3rd century), is the patron saint of music because of the song she sang at her wedding. She died just days after her husband, Valerian, and his brother were beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. She is listed in the First Eucharistic prayer as an early church martyr.

 

November 23: Clement I, pope and martyr (d. 99) is also mentioned in the First Eucharistic prayer. He is the third pope and was martyred in exile. He is presumed to be a former slave in the imperial court. He wrote a letter to the Corinthians after a revolt and as pope he restored ordered within the ministries.   

 

November 23: Columban, abbot (d. 615) was an Irish monk who left Ireland for France with 12 companions to found a monastery as a base for preaching. They established 3 monasteries within 10 years. Columban opposed the king's polygamy and was expelled. He set up monasteries in Switzerland and Italy before he died. Though he was expelled, the monasteries were permitted to remain open.

 

November 23: Miguel Pro, S.J., martyr (1891-1927) lived in Guadalupe, Mexico before entering the Jesuits. Public worship was forbidden in Mexico so Miguel became an undercover priest often wearing disguises. He was arrested and ordered to be shot in front of a firing squad without benefit of a trial. Before he died she shouted out, "Long live Christ the King."

 

November 24: Andrew Dung-Lac and companion martyrs (1785-1839) were missionaries to Vietnam during the 17th through 19th centuries. Over 130,000 Christians were killed, including priests, sisters, brothers, and lay people. Many of these were Vietnamese citizens.

 

Fourth Thursday: Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is derived from a mix of European and Native American traditions. Joyous festivals were held in Europe to give thanks for a good harvest and to rejoice with others for their hard work. It is a day to give thanks for the many blessings we have received through God's generosity throughout the year.

 

November 25: Catherine of Alexandria, martyr, (d. 310) is said to have been born in Egypt to a noble family. She was educated and converted to Christianity because of a vision. She refused to marry a man arranged to be her husband by the emperor, and she denounced him for persecuting Christians. She was arrested, tortured, and killed.

 

November 26: John Berchmans, S.J., religious (1599-1621), was a Jesuit scholastic who is the patron saint of altar servers. He was known for his pious adherence to the rules and for his obedience. He did well in studies, but was seized with a fever during his third year of philosophy and died at the age of 22.

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

·      November 21, 1759. At Livorno, the harbor officials refused to let the ship, S Bonaventura, with 120 exiled Portuguese Jesuits on board, cast anchor. Carvalho sent orders to the Governor of Rio de Janeiro to make a diligent search for the supposed wealth of the Jesuits.

·      November 22, 1633. The first band of missionaries consisting of five priests and one brother, embarked from England for Maryland. They were sent at the request of Lord Baltimore. The best known among them was Fr. Andrew White.

·      November 22, 1791: Georgetown Academy opened with one student, aged 12, who was the first student taught by the Jesuits in the United States.

·      November 23, 1545: Jeronimo de Nadal, whom Ignatius had known as a student at Paris, entered the Society. Later Nadal was instrumental in getting Ignatius to narrate his autobiography.

·      In 1927: the execution of Fr. Michael Augustine Pro, SJ, by leaders of the persecution of the Church in Mexico.

·      November 24, 1963: The death of John LaFarge, pioneer advocate of racial justice in the United States.

·      November 25, 1584: The Church of the Gesu, built in Rome for the Society by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, was solemnly consecrated.

·      November 26, 1678: In London the arrest and imprisonment of St Claude la Colombiere. He was released after five weeks and banished.

·      November 27, 1680: In Rome the death of Fr. Athanasius Kircher, considered a universal genius, but especially knowledgeable in science and archeology.