Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. -Year C - Sunday, 23 November 2025 (EPISODE: 557)

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. -Year C -  Sunday, 23 November 2025 (EPISODE: 557)

Readings for Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.- Year C
FIRST READING: 2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5. "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord"
SECOND READING: Colossians 1:12-20
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 11:9b+10a). Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is he who inherits the Kingdom of David our father. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL: Luke 23:35-43
 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/a3yhf6TNfcFfHP2Tm1RH/christ-the-king-of-the-universe?ru=Paul-Evangelion++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Year C - Sunday, 23 November 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-557-our/s-mzzgK9VyedW  (EPISODE: 557)
++++

 

The Church's liturgical year is slightly different to the calendar year, by about a month. The last Sunday of the Church liturgical year, that's this Sunday, ends rightly with a celebration of Christ, who is the King of Heaven and Earth. Christ has already won the victory over sin and death, and now he is rightfully King of the Universe.

 

God's Kingdom is established and present among us, now and within us, but it's not yet been fully revealed. At the end of time, all things will be under Christ's feet. Meanwhile, we disciples of Christ are happy to assist in the building up of the Kingdom of God by our everyday actions and choices.

 

God's Kingdom is one of peace and justice, compassion and love. We yearn for the fullness of this Kingdom and rejoice that its foundations are firm and everlasting. Nothing can hold out against the Kingdom of God.

 

+++

What a perfect gospel to represent the kingship of our Lord, even if it's surprising and thought-provoking. It reveals a stark contrast. A king is ordinarily portrayed sitting in glory on a magnificent golden throne, dressed in fine clothes, with attendants at his side and surrounded by the trappings of his power.

 

But here is Jesus, the king of the universe, ruling from the cross, with no trappings of power, except the power of love and self-giving. As a wonderful reflection says,** what should the worldly wise do with an unkingly king, who flatly refuses to take authority over armies, who will not grant cabinet posts to cronies, who will not even for one day live in a palace, who refuses to hate enemies or plot their downfall, who mixes in common crowds without any sense of royal dignity, who won't have a bodyguard or wear a safety vest, who refuses to play political games or engage in betrayals or backstabbing in order to increase his power, who will not dress in gilded robes or wear a jewelled crown. Oh indeed, what on earth would the worldly-wise do with such an unkingly king? **(Poet: Bruce Prewer)

 

Today is the day when we are asked to turn an idea upside down, to firmly take words such as king and power, strength and victory, and turn the meaning of these things inside out.

 

Christ is our king, the monarch of all things, but he is humble, compassionate. He is a person who never went to university, never wrote a book, never held any public office, had few if any friends in high places on earth. His adult life, he never travelled too far from his tiny home country, never met anyone much more important than a provincial governor or some foreign wise men.

 

His only crown was a terrible, painful wreath of thorns, his only throne was two planks of wood forming a cross. No earthly court for this king, rather at his right hand and at his left, two dying thieves. It's fitting that the end of the church year declares that Jesus is the king of heaven and earth, king of the universe.

 

At the end of all things, Christ's universal kingship will be fully revealed. The Lord is rightly the king of our world, he is also the king of our lives, our priorities, our plans, our hopes and our dreams. If only the Lord Jesus would establish his kingdom values in our lives fully now.

 

We long to have our lives transformed by the peace, justice, love and forgiveness that mark his gospel. On this feast of Christ the King, I am thinking particularly of the complete transformation God has wrought in our concepts of kingship, power, authority, and even the usual definition of victory or success. Our previous human concepts of these words and meanings are, to put it bluntly, shabby.

 

Not far from the surface, many people have the ingrained belief that power is about domination, having the upper hand over others. It often goes hand in hand with the use or the threat of force. In rather limited human terms, many think that authority is about who can push their point of view the loudest, longest, or strongest.

 

Kingship is often considered to be about separation, distance, privilege, prestige, and aloofness. Power is often seen to be about winners and losers. It's also considered to be about survival of the fittest, all is fair in love and war and eat or be eaten.

 

So in comes God and through the life and example of Jesus, God made flesh, totally transforms the meaning and definition of these things. It's such a surprising transformation that one can hardly recognize it as the same thing and many in this world will never accept or recognize that God's definition of these things is the right one. God with us came down very close to us.

 

He was not at all distant in his authority but one who lived in our flesh and knew our experiences. He was being there for others and that's such an important gift and skill for all of us. Time is the most important gift we can give and it can be given generously, but sometimes work, illness or circumstances hampers our availability to be there for others but we keep searching for different ways of being present to others in need, whether it's by letters, cards, phone calls or making a special effort to be around for special events.

 

Jesus sets clear principles for behaviour. We all know the golden rule: be compassionate, forgiving, and so on. We need to love the way Jesus loves, setting clear principles in our lives so that we and those around us can be the best selves with our behaviour that makes us fully human and fully alive as God wants.

 

Jesus loves us and wants what is best for us but that's very different from telling us to do what we like. Jesus sets the example. The behaviour our Lord wants us to do he himself did first.

 

Our Lord did in actions what he said with words. Christ loves us as a parent loves us, not for what we can give back but simply because we're created in God's image as are all people, and God loves us. The world cries out for this newly renovated definition of authority, power, victory and kingship, which is more about family and relationships, care, protection and love.

 

Out goes survival of the fittest and in comes a kingdom of people who ensure that the frail and the weakest members are not left behind and indeed who are carried along with us if needed on our tough journey as we all walk towards God's house. The kingdom shows us that a truly Christ-like community is discerned by how much the most vulnerable are protected by the strongest. Today we celebrate that we desire more than anything to participate in and hold the true values of Christ, the King and his kingdom, which we joyfully and humbly admit is the true way in all things.

 

"To you, Christ our King, we bring before you our lust for power and set it down before your rejection of power. We bring our love of money and place it before your will in poverty. We bring our stubborn pride and set it before your utter humility.

 

We bring our payback mentality and lay it before your mercy. We bring our desire for self-glory and place it before your passion for the Father's glory, not yours. We bring our inveterate self-interest and rest it before your self-giving.

 

We bring our vain wisdom and lay it before the folly of your cross." ##  (Kym Harris, a Benedictine nun).

 

To Jesus, Lord of all heaven and earth, to you be honour, glory and true power and authority forever and ever. Amen.

+++++
References:

Homily  Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

**Brief Prayers for Busy People. Author: Bruce D Prewer. ISBN 978- 1- 62880- 090- 6). Web site www.acresources.com.au

 

## Kym Harris, a Benedictine nun from Tanby near Rockhampton. On "Celebrating Jesus' authority."

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/a3yhf6TNfcFfHP2Tm1RH/christ-the-king-of-the-universe?ru=Paul-Evangelion

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.  Year C  -(Sunday, 23 November 2025)  (EPISODE: 557 )
2. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{Goodness and kindness  to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather -  To take time to reflect upon the meaning of God's word for our everyday lives On this Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

My friends in Christ, to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us first acknowledge our sins.
option two on the cards Have mercy on us, O Lord. For we have sinned against you. Show us, O Lord, your mercy. And grant us your salvation.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5. "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord"

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Mark 11:9b+10a). ). Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is he who inherits the Kingdom of David our father. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: universal king
Eucharistic Prayer various 3
(theme variation: theme 4 )

 

(post version: v2-short)

++++
{1. Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

4. Go in peace.

++++++++
Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

"Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai

{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}

[Production -  KER -  2025]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year C - Sunday, 16 November 2025 (EPISODE: 556)

 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year C -  Sunday, 16 November 2025 (EPISODE: 556)

Readings for Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year C
FIRST READING: Malachi 3:19-20a
Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9. “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice”
SECOND READING: 2 Thessalonians  3:7-12
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:38). Alleluia, alleluia! Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
GOSPEL: Luke 21:5-19

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/8Y7pZjogIQe3rqIM8vq0/jesus-foretells-the-destruction-of-the-jerusalem-temple-by-the-romans-in-70-ad?ru=Paul-Evangelion 

++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 16 November 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-556  
(EPISODE: 556)
+++++

It is what is inside that counts.  That could be one theme that jumps up from this weekend's scriptures.  .Our Lord, who is God made flesh, was born into this world to usher in the Kingdom of God.  He did and said many things in the furtherance of this Kingdom. But each and every action he did was an expression and a consequence of his nature as God and as a concrete exposition of the values of God in action. Our Lord today warns his disciples, yes, the ornaments and workmanship of God's Temple in Jerusalem is superb. But this beauty is merely a shadow of the inner significance of God who lives with his people. Its God within us which matters. And in any case, this outer fabric of the Temple will be torn down and destroyed, but the inner reality of God's abiding presence with his people never ends, no matter what happens.  Amidst the shocks and tragedies around every corner of this uncertain life, if we stay firmly focused upon and connected to the inner reality of Christ, in all things, we will stand strong no matter what happens.   

+++

The scene in the gospel today is really shocking. Some people were rightly admiring the beauty of the superb temple of God in Jerusalem.

 

Loved by the people of Israel. Only for Jesus to reply to their horror, there will come a day when not one stone will be left lying on another. The absolute horror of this would be something akin to us admiring the Sydney Opera House and its unique design and beauty, only for a respected leader to say, One day, one day soon, it will all be in rubble, a complete wreck.

 

That's just unthinkable. Shocking. Although the temple of Jerusalem was not just any old building, it was God's house.

 

So it would be more like, in modern days, admiring the beauty of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and rightly to be unable to comprehend if anyone were to say that this focal point of our universal faith could one day lie in ruins. What an horrific thought. But that's just how shocking were these words to the listeners.

 

And when the temple did indeed lie in ruins, as predicted by Christ, after the Roman armies destroyed it, the people felt utterly lost, as if their soul had been torn out from inside them. It must have seemed like the end of the world had come. Two thousand years later, after the temple was destroyed, people still weep at the small part of the temple wall that has been rebuilt, endlessly mourning its loss.

 

The gospel today shines its insightful light upon the massive efforts we put into building up a vision, only for it to somehow be torn down by circumstances, whether it's by natural disaster or accident, or even by the negligence or even malice of others. It's timely to think of the things like this, as our Lord warns us to put our efforts into building up that which lasts forever, that which can never be touched or torn down. This weekend, Jesus warns his disciples that there are tough, stormy times ahead, for all who follow him, and in fact the wider community, including the Jewish people of Israel in his time.

 

But in the midst of this, he still offers hope. Don't be fooled, the end has not come. Even if it feels like it, the end has not arrived.

 

He rightly predicted that there would be wars and natural disasters, and many of them, many which would shake the foundations of society and frighten people. But amid all of these things, he calls us to remain resolute and keep focusing on the gospel. In all of this, he says, don't be shaken.

 

Do not be thrown by the tumult around you. Keep on working diligently without hesitation. Keep witnessing to the truth of my message.

 

I will be with you. I will be faithful to you. Even if following me causes persecution, and sadly for some, breakups in the closest of relationships, in ordinary family or social relations.

 

But again, this is an invitation to think and pray carefully about what we're putting our energies into. What are we building? Because some buildings, in fact most buildings, will not last forever. And even the ones that are intended to last forever, don't.

 

Jesus is not just talking about physical buildings, of course. What we're putting all our hopes and dreams and energy into is also building up something. Because there may be a time when exactly that which is the object of all our time, all our effort and energy, could be knocked down, whether by accident or design.

 

So Jesus implores us to put our energies and priorities into his kingdom and its values that can never be torn down. The reason that the early Christians endured such persecution, such horrors, and kept faithful, was that they knew Jesus. They had met him.

 

The early disciples. They had walked with him. They'd eaten with him.

 

They had been touched by his preaching and his ministry. And then those who had met Jesus talked about Jesus to those who hadn't. So they would willingly go to their deaths for what they knew their Lord stood for.

 

And it was on solid ground. There is one thing that's quite certain. We will not be left standing unless we connect ourselves.

 

Unless we throw a rope around God and really tie ourselves to the one true spiritual building that does endure forever. Christ. The foundation stone and fortress.

 

We need to daily deepen our knowledge and love of the person and message of Jesus. To deeply allow our Lord to immerse us in his heart and mind. So that we might catch on fire with his person, his message, and values.

 

And let us reflect often, opening ourselves up to this spiritual question about what our real priorities and choices are. What are we building? Are we building something so closely connected to Christ's gospel that it truly can never be torn down?

+++++

References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

 

My Daily Visitor reflections, Nov/Dec, 2010
Homily  Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/8Y7pZjogIQe3rqIM8vq0/jesus-foretells-the-destruction-of-the-jerusalem-temple-by-the-romans-in-70-ad?ru=Paul-Evangelion


Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Year C  -(Sunday, 16 November 2025)  (EPISODE: 556 )
2. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{Kindness and grace  to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather -  To offer or praise, prayers and intercessions to our loving God On this Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Coming together as Gods family, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: Lord, have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9. “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice”

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:38). ). Alleluia, alleluia! Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE: Ordinary 7
Eucharistic Prayer 2
(theme variation: theme 3 )

 

(post version: v1-long)

++++
{17. Thanks everyone, and have a grace-filled and compassion-filled week.}

3. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

++++++++
Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul’s homily mail-out by visting here:

https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 

Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

“Quiet Time.”  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

“Today I Arise” - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick’s Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai

{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}

[Production -  KER -  2025]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Remembrance Day 2025 11/11/25 Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish - Mass – (2025).

Remembrance Day – (2025).

Image: Australian War Memorial Archive – Canberra. Photograph H06769. Claud Castleton VC, (1893-1916).
+
Background image: Shutterstock Photo – licensed - ID: 2257654357 - Anzac background. Remembrance day, Memorial in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Great Britain. Red poppies. Memorial armistice Day, Anzac day banner. Remember for Anzac, Historic war memory. Photo Contributor: Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB

LEST WE FORGET ANY OF OUR BRAVE.



+++++++

 https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/remembrance-day-11th-11th-2020?si=91a8d23260764228aab1b46141b4344a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  

++++

Lateran Basilica Dedication Feast -Year C - Sunday, 9 November 2025 (EPISODE: 555)

Lateran Basilica Dedication  Feast -Year C -  Sunday, 9 November 2025 (EPISODE: 555)

Readings for Lateran Basilica Dedication  Feast- Year C
FIRST READING: Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Ps 46:1-2, 4-5, 7-8. "The waters of the river gladden the city of God."
SECOND READING: 1 Cor 3:9b-11, 16-17
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (2 Chronicles 7:16). Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen and sacntified this house, says the Lord, that my name may remain in it for all time.
GOSPEL: John 2:13-22

https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/4pLo66et9NUHhOan9Z9R?ru=Paul-Evangelion

++++
Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Lateran Basilica Dedication  Feast Year C - Sunday, 9 November 2025 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-555-the  
(EPISODE: 555)
+++++
The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, 9th of November. The Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, was dedicated to Christ the Saviour in the 4th century. The anniversary has been celebrated as a feast of the Latin Church on this day since the 12th century. It honours the local Church of Rome and its link with the earliest Christian traditions and as a sign of our communion in Christ.

+++

One of the unexpected highlights of a pilgrimage that I took to Rome in 2007 was a guided tour of what was called the first of all churches in the Catholic Church, John Lateran Cathedral. On the front of the door was inscribed Latin words which translate as most holy Lateran church of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head.

 

Wow, a very profound claim. Many may be forgiven for thinking that St. Peter's Basilica was the mother church, I certainly did at one point of my life, but it definitely is not St. Peter's that is the mother church, it's St. John Lateran which we celebrate on this feast day today. It's the church we celebrate in this special feast, a feast so important that when it lands on a Sunday, it overrides the usual Sunday readings, which does not happen for most feast days, only really important ones such as last week's feast of all souls and this week's feast of John Lateran.

 

The church now known as John Lateran, actually it has two co-patrons because it has been dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at different times in its history, actually has its official name and head patron as Christ himself. The official title of this church is the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior. So we start to see why this feast is so important, it's regarded as a feast day of Christ our Savior.

 

Emperor Constantine gave this land to the church as residence of the Pope and for a church in around 312 AD and it was officially dedicated in 324. It has undergone many changes but is regarded as the seat of the Bishop of Rome, thus symbolizing the seat of the Bishop and the mother church of the Universal Church. It ranks in importance over all other churches, even St. Peter's Basilica.

 

This was the very first Christian church built in the west, the first church built when Christianity was no longer outlawed or underground, just trying to survive. So this first church presented a new challenge to the newly legalized early Christian church. What kind of building should a public church of worship for Christ be like? They did not want to build something that was like the Roman temples which were beautiful outside and designed to be looked at by people from the outside and fairly empty on the inside, with usually just a statue of some Roman or Greek god or goddess.

 

The early Christian church wanted to distance itself quite strongly from comparisons with temples of pagans. Also, Christianity needed large public spaces for people to gather and also room for different spaces where people at different stages of initiation could come, somewhat apart from others until they're joined together in the initiation ceremony. Thus, the early Christians looked around for similar buildings and decided that the closest in practical style to what they were looking for were the Roman public buildings of the time, the basilicas, which were enormous spaces for public civic gatherings, which could allow for different subspaces within for people to gather as well.

 

The church deliberately went the opposite way to pagan temples and rightly so. The Christian churches were plain and ordinary looking on the outside and beautiful and inspiring within. This church of John Latron was originally built as a temple to the god who enabled victory for the Roman emperor Constantine, and there has always been a sense of victory about this church.

 

This is why it was dedicated to Christ, the saviour. This church symbolises Christianity coming out of the shadows and now standing openly as a publicly accepted and victorious presence in the community, a shining example of Christ's love for all the world. The church has been rebuilt and extended many times.

 

The most significant change was the which large columns were built, and in between the columns were placed huge statues of the twelve apostles, as if to say that just as these statues form part of the support beams of the church, so too the apostles are the support pillars on which Jesus has built his spiritual church. The main altar is built over relics of the original wooden altar, which Saint Peter and Paul are believed to have celebrated mass, and above the altar is an ornate covered canopy called a baldacchino, with golden statues of Peter and Paul which are actually reliquies containing fragments of the skulls of Saints Peter and Paul. So mass on this altar occurs in the midst of these symbols of the church's history.

 

The bishop's chair, the seat of the which is the chair of the Pope, is in an apse directly behind the altar. This chair is a symbol of the bishop's pastoral care and oversight of the diocese of Rome, and therefore his role as universal pastor to the churches throughout the world, which are all in communion with him, and therefore with God and the whole universal church. Back in 2007 we got to celebrate mass in the chapel of the baptistry of Saint John Lateran.

 

This was a special blessing for us, and it was very meaningful. We started mass with a renewal of our baptismal promises in this baptistry at the Catholic Church's mother church, representing baptisms all over the world. I prayed then as we continue to pray now for parishioners, family and friends, and for the universal church, Christ's church to which we all belong, and it's beautiful.

 

It's wonderful to belong to something much, much bigger than what we can see, bigger than our own selves. It's excellent that all the local Catholic church communities spread throughout the world are also at the same time in communion with the universal church, represented by the unity we share with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. It reminds us that we are truly part of a bigger picture, and we act in union with the church.

 

We're both local and universal. The two cannot be separated. Because we belong to a wider communion, we act in the knowledge that we are both local and universal in our membership.

 

This is why we're careful to ensure that the necessary local flavour of our community here also always synchronises with what we share in common with the wider universal church and its actions. It's so moving to be part of a communion that grounds us in the here and now, and at the same time calls us to look outward and upward into the worldwide mission of Christ's church. This feast we share, of course, is not really about a building, bricks and stones that is, although this is a focal point for prayer and presence.

 

But we know from the Jesus is the true temple, and we are all bricks in the fabric of Christ. We are part of the body of Christ, a living body, the church. St Paul tells us too that the temple is the church, the gathered body of Christians, the body of Christ.

 

Each of us is a living stone, building up the church on the foundations of Jesus. Today's feast is as much a celebration of a magnificent physical structure, but even more so as our unity as Christians in the church. We also celebrate our vocation to stay focused on the church's mission, which is the building up of the kingdom of God.
+++++
References:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY – including pilgrimage notes 2007.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_St._John_Lateran

 

Prepare the Word (internet service)

 

IMAGE:  https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/4pLo66et9NUHhOan9Z9R?ru=Paul-Evangelion
+++++


Lateran Basilica Dedication  Feast  Year C  -(Sunday, 9 November 2025)  (EPISODE: 555 )
1. The Lord be with you.
+++++++++++++
{{Peace and Patience to you all}} welcome everyone, we gather -  Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures and the values of the Lord. On this Lateran Basilica Dedication  Feast

Brothers and sisters, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Lord's supper, let us recall our sins and acknowledge them in silence.
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit. Lord, have mercy You bring pardon and peace to the sinner. Christ, have mercy You bring light to those in darkness. Lord, have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ps 46:1-2, 4-5, 7-8. "The waters of the river gladden the city of God."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (2 Chronicles 7:16). ). Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen and sacntified this house, says the Lord, that my name may remain in it for all time.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PREFACE:
Eucharistic Prayer 4
(theme variation: theme 2 )

 

(post version: v2-long)

++++
{16. I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of Our Lord's compassion and love}

2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

++++++++
Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here:

https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 

Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

"Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.

Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.

Editing equipment:    -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)

Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai

{excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text}

[Production -  KER -  2025]
May God bless and keep you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++