Christ the King

                                Christ the King

                      B cycle

 

Today's feast of Christ the King marks the end of the church year. Although Christians have always believed in the Kingship of Christ, the feast is a relatively recent one dating only from 1925. Pope Pius XI instituted the new feast after a devastating world war which saw millions killed and empires fall. The Kaiser of defeated Germany was forced to abdicate his throne; the Tsar of Russia was deposed and executed by angry revolutionaries; the Austrian empire--the heir to the Holy Roman empire which had lasted for over a thousand years--was broken up into a number of small states; and the Turkish empire, which had ruled the Middle East for over 500 years, was also overthrown, an event which led to the anarchy in that area which persists even today. Even though the English monarchy survived the war, the mighty British empire was mortally wounded. 

 

At a time when the very idea of Kingship was on the way out, the Pope chose to emphasize the Kingship of Christ. The Second Vatican Council reemphasized the importance of the feast when it moved it from the last Sunday in October to the very last Sunday of the church year. Naturally, the theme of today's readings is Kingship. The first reading from the Book of Daniel speaks of one who has received “dominion, glory, and kingship.” 

 

       His dominion is an everlasting dominion

That shall not be taken away,

His kingdom shall not be destroyed.

 

In America we have never been partial to kings or the idea of Kingship. We pride ourselves on being a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people." It wasn't only that our founding fathers revolted against King George III of England but their aversion to kingship went even deeper. 

 

Kings were supposed to be God's divinely appointed representatives on earth. Their coronations were religious ceremonies where the new king would be anointed with holy oils by a religious leader. Political philosophers spoke of the "divine right of kings" to justify their power. Ever since the time of King Henry the Eighth, the kings and queens of England had acted as head of the Church of England. Old traditions held that the King even possessed miraculous healing powers. It was believed that merely touching his cloak could cure many physical maladies.

 

By the time of our revolution it was clear that most kings were not what they were supposed to be. Many had come to their thrones not by divine right or election but through violence and usurpation. Many did not behave like representatives of God especially when it came to being good shepherds. A King was supposed to be the best and noblest man in the nation but often he seemed to be the worst. Even if they started out with good intentions, power corrupted them.

 

But what if there was a person whose teaching was both simpler and wiser than any of the world's great philosophers? What if this same teacher was able to calm storms at sea and even walk on the angry waters? What if there was a person who did indeed possess miraculous healing powers? -- if merely touching his cloak could cure both physical and spiritual ailments? What if there was a person who could feed the multitudes not only with bread for a day but with the bread of everlasting life? What if there was a person whose power was so great that he could even bring the dead back to life? Finally, what if there was a person who rather than being corrupted by power, surrendered his own life for his people? Shouldn't we call that person our King?

 

In today's gospel from St. John we see our King on this last Sunday of the Church year on trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. In this scene Pilate puts the question to Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” 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.

 

All year we have been reading St. Mark’s account of our Lord's journey to Jerusalem. We've followed Him on the journey, heard the famous parables, witnessed the miracles and the miraculous cures and healings. He asked us to take up our cross and follow Him and promised that if we would do so we would enter into His Kingdom. Actually, He said that His Kingdom would enter into us--that the Kingdom of God would be within us. 

 

Let's end this Church year by visualizing the scene on the Cross. Let's imagine that we are one of the thieves being crucified along with Jesus and that our own journey through life is coming to an end. Wouldn't we want to hear the famous words in the gospel when the King turns to us and says,

 

       Amen, I say to you,

       today you will be with Me in Paradise.

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Reading 1. Daniel 7: 13-14

Reading II. Revelations 1: 5-8

Gospel. John 18: 33b-37 (You say I am a king)

Hope Springs Eternal

                            3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

                           B cycle

 

         

The month of November is sometimes called the month of the dead. As we look around we see the leaves falling from the trees, the sun riding lower in the sky and setting earlier and earlier. Animals are preparing for the long cold winter. 

 

The Church year also follows the cycle of nature. We began this month with the great feast of All Saints, and then remembered all the departed on All Souls day. Throughout the month we will remember our beloved departed and next week we will celebrate the feast of Christ the King where we will come face to face with the end of the world and the Last Judgment.

 

Although we are confronted with the end of the world in today’s readings, we should also understand that they also deal with the end of our own little personal world, and how we should face it. 

 

As a senior citizen I make it a regular practice to look through the newspaper obituaries every day. I like to joke that I do so just to make sure I am not listed. Actually, it is a practice both edifying and sad. It is good to read about those who had productive lives and left so many well-wishers behind. It is really sad to come across names of those who have passed away at a relatively young age. Finally, reading the obituaries makes me wonder why I am still living while others have been taken away.  

 

Today’s readings, however, contain a promise and a hope of eternal life. The first reading from the Book of prophet Daniel speaks of the end of time when all the dead rise.

 

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; 

Some shall live forever,

Others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. 

 

 

 

The Old Testament Book of Daniel was written only a few hundred years before the time of Jesus. It is clear that our Lord was familiar with it for in today’s reading from Mark’s gospel, He speaks of the end of time. It is a powerful image.

 

The sun will be darkened,

And the moon will not give its light,

And the stars will be falling from the sky,

And the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

 

No one knows when the end of the world will come, but we all know that our own life will come to an end, and that we will no longer see the sun, and the moon, and the stars. What can we do about it? How should we prepare.

 

It is easy to say that we might look back over our lives and wish that we could have done better, or that we should take steps to mend our ways before it is too late. However, instead of fear and trembling, I think it better to face the end with hope.

 

We all know about the three great virtues: faith, hope, and charity. By definition, a virtue is a habit, something that if we do it often enough, it becomes easy and natural. We all know that the greatest athletes practice more than anyone to develop their skills. How many shots does a great basketball player take in practice so that when the game is on the line, he can make the crucial shot?

 

It is easy to practice faith and charity. For faith, we just have to do our duty. The Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis or Always Faithful. The little acts of charity we perform even as children should lay a foundation that will last for all our lives. But what about hope?

 

As the old saying goes, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” It would appear that hope is even part of our genetic makeup. In spiritual terms it is a gift from God, Nevertheless, things can happen in our lives that can make us reject the gift and turn to despair.

 

 We see signs of despair all around us today. The suicide rate, especially among teenagers and college students, is rising. Millions of people in this country are taking anti-depressant medications to deal with their worries. Should we be surprised at such statistics when so many in our society are urging us to abandon God and reject his great spiritual gifts.

 

For the past few Sundays the second reading has been taken from the Letter to the Hebrews. The basic message of that letter is that Jesus has died for our sins and that we do not have to despair. He has risen and we too can rise and hope again. 

 

 Jesus told us that all we have to do is love one another. In practical terms loving and caring for others is the best way to take our mind off ourselves and our troubles. From the very beginning Christians have realized that faith, love and hope are inseparable.

 

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Reading 1.  1 Daniel 12: 1-3

Reading II. Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18

Gospel. Mark 13: 24-32 (My words will not pass away)

The Widow's Mite

                            32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

                           B cycle

 

 

        

Today’s first reading from the Book of Kings tells the well-known story of Elijah, the greatest of the Hebrew prophets, and a poor widow and her son who are about to die of starvation.  A drought has caused famine in the widow’s city and she and her son have lost all hope. 

 

Nevertheless, Elijah asks her for food and drink and promises that the Lord will not let her and her son starve.  She bakes her last bread and gives it to Elijah, and sure enough her jar of flour does not go empty. 

 

In today’s gospel Jesus notices another poor widow near the Temple treasury. Although wealthy citizens are obviously putting large sums into the treasury, Jesus points out that though the impoverished widow has deposited only two small coins, she has contributed more than all the others. She had made the ultimate sacrifice. She had given all she had, “her whole livelihood” while the rich had only given from their surplus.

 

This story reminds me of the days I used to help count the Sunday collection proceeds in my own parish. We would separate the cash from the envelopes and then open each envelope and record the contributions. Every Sunday one woman would just put a couple of small coins in her envelope. It could be that she was just thumbing her nose at the pastor, but I like to think that what she gave meant a lot to the woman. It always reminded me of the widow in today’s gospel. 

 

Today, in reflecting on the gospel, it seems to me that the Temple treasurer should have returned the widow’s contribution, and given the poor woman much more in return for her great gift.  Unfortunately, in those times and in ours, officials seem to be much better at taking in money than giving it out. In the first part of the reading Jesus tells his listeners to beware of the scribes, the temple officials who lord it over others. 

 

Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes

and accept greetings in the marketplace,

seats of honor in synagogues,

and places of honor at banquets.

They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext

recite lengthy prayers.

 

In another place Jesus told his new hierarchy of disciples not to become like the leaders of the Gentiles who lord it over their subjects. Their mission was to serve. Unfortunately, today many leaders in all denominations are little different from secular officials who live high on the hog, and seek to be served rather than to serve the people they have pledged to serve. They are public servants in name only.

 

A few years ago I visited the Cathedral in San Francisco, a huge architectural masterpiece that must have cost a fortune to build. Unlike the cathedrals of old, there were no crowds of pilgrims streaming in and out of this gleaming modernistic structure. It was virtually empty. The early cathedrals were signs of humility since they were built by the sweat and labor and contributions of ordinary people. The new cathedral in San Francisco seemed built by arrogance and pride.

 

In today’s second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told that “Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands.” All of our churches today contain sanctuaries made by human hands but we must realize that the real sanctuaries in the church are the ordinary people in the church who have given themselves in the same way as the poor widow in today’s gospel. 

 

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Reading 1.  1 Kings 17:10-16

Reading II. Hebrews 9: 24-28

Gospel. Mark 12: 38-44 (The Widow’s Mite)

Love of Neighbor

            

Today’s first reading from the book of Deuteronomy contains the famous saying that every Jew would have known by heart during the time of Jesus. 

Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!

Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, 

with all your heart,

and with all your soul,

and with all your strength.

How were the Jews to love God, the God who had delivered them from their captivity in Egypt? Moses told them to keep the statutes and commandments which the Lord had given them. We know that after the time of Moses the original Ten Commandments had grown to more than 600, an incredible array of do’s and don’ts that put a great burden on the people.

However, in today’s gospel passage a Jewish scholar asked Jesus  “Which is the first of all the commandments?” As usual, Jesus chose to simplify and get right to the true spirit of the Law. In his reply Jesus combined two verses from the Hebrew Scriptures, the first that we heard above from Deuteronomy, and the second from Leviticus, 19: 18. 

You shall love the Lord your God,

With all your heart,

With all your soul,

And with all your mind.

This is the greatest and first commandment.

The second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

He combined them because his life and mission showed that the love of God and the love of neighbor went hand in hand. One is not possible without the other.

How do we love a God who we cannot see or hear? Jesus insisted over and over again that we love God in loving our neighbor. Perhaps mystics and great saints can see more directly but for ordinary people the more we love our neighbor, the more we love God.

But who is our neighbor? Please notice that Jesus did not tell us to love everyone willy- nilly. I once heard a story of a man who loved mankind in general but despised every individual he ever met. A feeling of love for humanity in general is not what Jesus talked about. On the contrary, Jesus always directed his love at individuals directly in front of him. He really meant it when he said love your neighbor.

Our closest neighbors are those entrusted to our care: our parents, our spouses, our children, our sisters and brothers. If we can’t love them, who can we love? It is really sad sometimes to see people neglect their own families for the sake of some seemingly noble cause. 

Loving those closest to us means helping to lift  the burdens that life has placed on them. As children we often thought that our parents were placing unnecessary burdens on us, but we rarely thought about the burden we placed on their shoulders. How often did we neglect to pitch in and help? Why do husbands and wives often make each other’s life harder when it is so much easier to share the load? Even Seniors, who should know better, often place unnecessary burdens on their grown children.

What are friends for, if not to help us share the burdens of life? What kind of love is it that constantly makes demands on others without lifting a finger to help? Actually, the more we love those closest to us, the more will we be able to love others. 

We know that Jesus extended the very meaning of neighbor. In the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked, “who was neighbor to the man”? It was the Samaritan who cared for the Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed despite the animosity between Jews and Samaritans. It is hard to imagine the Samaritan stopping on the road to help a stranger in distress without believing that he had experienced real love and caring in his own family and neighborhood.

Jesus showed us that the way to love God is through the love of our neighbor. All that we do for those entrusted to our care and protection, we do for Him. 

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Reading 1.  Deuteronomy 6: 2-6

Reading II. Hebrews 7: 23-28

Gospel. Mark 12: 28-34 (The Great Commandments)