Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe . Year B - Sunday, November 21, 2021 (EPISODE: 334)

Readings for Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Year B

FIRST READING: Dan 7: 13-14
Ps 93: 1a, 1b-2, 5. "The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. "
SECOND READING: Rev 1: 5-8
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: John 18: 33b-37

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 46042582 -Beautiful artistic stained glass portrait of Jesus -By CURAphotography
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Year B - Sunday, November 21, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-34th-sunday-ordinary-b-christ-the-king-episode-334?si=6d97c43d34be42288cbcef43ca350171   (EPISODE:334)

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* (Prologue:  Fr Paul Kelly)

It is perfectly fitting that on the last Sunday of the church's liturgical year, (this Sunday!), we celebrate the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.

This is a celebration that looks forward to the fact that ultimately, at the end of time, Our Lord Jesus will definitively take his place as the Ruler of all Creation. All things will be placed under his authority and power forever.

In one sense this has already begun. The Reign of God is already here. God's Kingdom is already amongst us. The Kingdom is already at work IN us. However, at the end of time, the Reign of God will be established in all its fullness, with any opposing powers comprehensively defeated and vanquished.

We still live in unsettled times, and there are still values that oppose Christ's Gospel. But it is so completely reassuring to have this message that The forces of violence, hatred, deception, and injustice will ultimately be defeated.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus stands on trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilate is questioning his apparent prisoner. Pilate's questions are arrogant and confident. He thinks he is in control. But we Christians have long been challenged to see beyond appearances. We are invited to see the truth behind the surface. Jesus is actually in control at all times, even though he is a prisoner and on trial for his life. Christ is really the free person of the two. Christ is freer than Pilate, who actually is rather keen to release Jesus but is scared of what other people might think or say. Pilate is actually a prisoner. Pilate compromises the truth for political expediency and binds himself up by doing so.

Jesus is the King of truth. : So, Living Authentically. Living according to truth and integrity is all that really matters. If we succeed at something by deception or hypocrisy or disregard for the dignity and welfare of our brothers and sisters around us, we are really losing.

Pilate is virtually calling him a fool for pursuing this non-violent, passive resistance approach. This persistent preaching of the Gospel. "Do you realise that you are going to get yourself killed? And what good will come of your values then?"

However, Jesus knew that if he compromised his principles merely to try to avoid death, then the really important things of life would have been lost anyway. Jesus' principles and their practical application is the true message

Christ stands firmly for the fact that the ends never justify the means-  what you stand for is what you will die for - and in fact, how we get to the goal is part of the journey.

Jesus tells us that the truth is all that matters. However, Pilate has an answer for this…." and what is Truth???????". He --- like so many --- has turned truth into a commodity to be bought and sold at will. Yet, we know that truth is not a statement; Truth is a Person, Truth is a way of living: Jesus (and his life and everything he stood for) IS THE TRUTH.

Can we dare to follow this radical King? The one whose way of thinking is not of this world but is certainly intended to transform and change this world and the people in it.

True power is actually "power FOR" others and not actually "power OVER" others. Instead of dominating and subduing others, this true service of leadership helps us to become truly the people God wants us to be. Christ has a vision for the people he created us to be.

There is a nice quote that I find very insightful. The writer Paul Tillich says. "Distrust every claim for truth where you do not see truth united with love, and be certain that you are of the truth and that the truth has taken hold of you only when love has taken hold of you and has started to make you free from yourselves. (Paul Tillich).
 
I love the preface to the Eucharistic prayer for this feast day today. because it names some of the qualities to be found in Christ's Kingdom:

Christ's Kingdom, which has already begun to take hold in our hearts and in our world is …..
"A kingdom of truth and life,
a kingdom of holiness and grace,
a kingdom of justice, love, and peace."

This week, my mind has kept coming back to the concept of Jesus being the Universal King. and so, We are not only his disciples and followers, but we are also his subjects.

What does it mean to be a loyal subject of a "King?" It puts our lives into a new perspective.

God's ways, values and priorities, are about giving without expecting a return and loving without counting the cost.

Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord, in all your fullness. Take your rightful place as King of Heaven and Earth! Lead us in the ways of truth. Come, Lord Jesus, as King of our hearts and lives.
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(Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon).
Over the past year, we have heard a great deal about our Royal family, and not all of what we heard was good news. Apart from Queen Elizabeth who seems to be able to rise above any unpleasantness, some of the other Royals have been in the firing line for a number of less than pleasant accusations. If our only understanding of what a king does was associated with the English royalty then today's feast of Christ the King would have very little significance. Essentially we don't know what Kings do. They seem to be largely ceremonial, which is quite the opposite of what we know of the life of Jesus. He was rather the antithesis of the modern understanding of a King.

History tells us that Kings had great power, influence and responsibility. They were often loved and respected, but many others were warriors, cruel and oppressors. They had control over the lives of others and ruled rather than led their subjects. The best Kings were the ones who knew their people and lived their lives among them. They didn't need to be guarded against their people but used truth as their shield and compassion as their throne.

Students of John's gospel will know that one of his literary devices is his use of irony. The Pharisees can't see, but the blind man can, the Samaritan woman has a bucket for the well, but is still thirsty, the soldiers need weapons to arrest an unarmed Jesus. John uses the image of the powerless prisoner before Pilate, the powerful ruler, and we are left wondering – who is the real king? Who has the greater power?

"I came into the world to testify to the truth", said Jesus. In that one sentence, he sums up what he believes is the duty of his kingship. The one who upholds the truth and lives by it is the real king. No matter how lowly, imprisoned, tortured or rejected. Nothing can defeat this king who stands on the foundation of truth.

Even though we might be slightly uncomfortable with the use of the term "King", this day is in fact the feast day of integrity and moral witness. There are not too many kings and queens of today who are prepared to lay down their lives for their subjects. History tells us that when the going gets tough, some monarchs get going, and that is why the courage of Jesus is such a strong witness. In the face of certain condemnation, he did not back down. In fact, he took the fight right up to the face of Pilate.

As demanding as it can be at times we are urged not to back down or be seduced in the face of power or pride, riches or greed as the world might present it. Our goal is not to shrink from the challenges that will surely bear down on us. To be able to put our love of people ahead of our love of things that might offer us the empty promise of riches and status.

We may be criticised for it, bullied and mocked, but whoever has a well-formed conscience and is prepared to live by it, will never feel put down or derided.

No excuse or apology is ever required for doing the right thing. Each of us is born to be lifted high by the truth that guides our lives.
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References:

Homily – fr peter Dillon

Prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. ID: 46042582 -Beautiful artistic stained glass portrait of Jesus -By CURAphotography

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe . Year B  (Sunday, November 21, 2021)  (EPISODE:334)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{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

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.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 93: 1a, 1b-2, 5. "The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. "

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.
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PREFACE: Christ, King of the Universe
EP II
(theme variation: 4 )


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

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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

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Further information 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 (Bill) 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: -            RODE-NT-USB-mini

Editing equipment:    NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software

NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44

Sound Processing:  iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor

[Production -  KER -  2021]

May God bless and keep you.
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