The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ 20 November 2016

Today is the last Sunday of the current liturgical year and we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. It is a Holy Day of Obligation and the colour for this solemnity is white, The Church hails our Lord and Savior as King of all creation, the King of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ's Kingship. Jesus Christ is the greatest of all kings, King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Christ is the King of the Universe, and that our Lord commands the respect and praise of all peoples. God is the source of all life and love, and in return, He rightfully deserves our respect, obedience and love. Pope Benedict XVI said, "Jesus is so intrinsically king that the title King has actually become his name. The King is Jesus; in him God entered humanity and espoused it to himself…."

This year the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe also marks the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy (8 December 2015, feast of the immaculate Conception - 20 November 2016, feast of Christ the King) which follows the closing of the Holy Doors in the basilicas of Rome and in the dioceses of the world on 13 November 2016.

The following Sunday, 27 November 2016 we will be begin the season of Advent and new the liturgical year. (details for Cycles - Lectionary for Mass as below)

* Sunday Cycle (Year A), 27 November, 2016 to 26 November, 2017 

** Weekday Cycle (Cycle I), 10 January, 2017 to 28 February, 2017 and 5 June, 2017 to 2 December, 2017

Jesus, King of the Universe, 

may I allow you always to reign in my soul!

Mary, Queen of Heaven and earth, 

pray for us!

Are we letting Jesus be our King? We belong to Christ, the truth and therefore listen to His voice and follow in His ways. Jesus is our only authority when it comes to directing our lives. Long Live Christ the King!

Almighty ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Reading 1

2 Samual 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:

“Here we are, your bone and your flesh. 

In days past, when Saul was our king,

it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. 

And the LORD said to you,

‘You shall shepherd my people Israel

and shall be commander of Israel.’” 

When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,

King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,

and they anointed him king of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

"We will go up to the house of the LORD."

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city

with compact unity.

To it the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

According to the decree for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

In it are set up judgment seats,

seats for the house of David.

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Reading 2

Colossians 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters:

Let us give thanks to the Father,

who has made you fit to share

in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. 

He delivered us from the power 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 firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;

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 firstborn from the dead,

that in all things he himself might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile all things for him,

making peace by the blood of his cross

through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,

“He saved others, let him save himself

if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” 

Even the soldiers jeered at him. 

As they approached to offer him wine they called out,

“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 

Above him there was an inscription that read,

“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,

“Are you not the Christ?

Save yourself and us.”

The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,

“Have you no fear of God,

for you are subject to the same condemnation?

And indeed, we have been condemned justly,

for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,

but this man has done nothing criminal.”

Then he said,

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

He replied to him,

“Amen, I say to you,

today you will be with me in Paradise.”