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.”

The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, King of the Universe (Feast of Christ the King) ~ 22 November 2015

The feast of Christ the King instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. His Encyclical on the feast of Christ the King "Quas Primas" was promulgated on 11 December 1925. The feast of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time which is the Sunday before Advent.

Liturgical Colour : White / Gold

We honour and proclaim Kingship of Christ and His royalty over men,

• Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and has supreme and absolute dominion over all His creations.
• Christ is our Redeemer, He suffered and was crucified, and died, He purchase our salvation by His precious blood that flow down the Holy Cross and we now belong to Him. "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled."We are no longer our own property, for Christ has purchased us "with a great price"
• Christ is the Head of the Church, and we are His people, the body of the Church.
• God gave Christ the nations of the world for Him to rule and all knees shall bow, praise, worship and glorify before Him our Divine Messiah , from the Blood of David, the Lion of Judah. It is Christ whom the Father "hath appointed heir of all things"; "for he must reign until at the end of the world he hath put all his enemies under the feet of God and the Father. "While nations insult the beloved name of Christ our Redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all the more loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights.

"For a child is born to us and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace. He shall sit upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgement and with justice, from henceforth and for ever."

Jesus Christ our King must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls.

Christ our King is not an oppressive ruler, but one who is willing to die for humanity and whose "loving-kindness endures forever." He gives us true freedom, freedom in Him and therefore we must never forget that Christ radically redefined and transformed the concept of kingship. Christ's kingship is one of humility and service, as Jesus said in the gospel;

• For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
• Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”.... Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that 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.” (John 33b, 36-37)

"Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; 

the scepter of thy kingdom 

is a scepter of righteousness."

We glorify and praised, 

Jesus Christ the King, King of all the Universe.

He alone is Just and full of Mercy and Love. 

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. Amen.

Reading 1

Daniel 7:13-14As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendour robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.


Reading 2

Revelation 1:5-8
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

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

John 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
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."

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ 23 November, 2014

In this solemnity, we celebrate and contemplate the kingship of Jesus our Redeemer. Today, the Sunday 23 November, 2014 is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. Next Sunday, 30 November, 2014, we start the Advent Sunday with the first Sunday in Advent. 

Jesus Christ is not a king like any king we have ever seen on earth. He is the Good Shepherd that we hear about in the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel. Jesus is a King who loves our freedom. He rules by his love, by his tender mercy. He wants us to respond with our freedom to his gifts of grace and his invitation to share in his divine life.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, 

and all the angels with him, 

he will sit upon his glorious throne, 

and all the nations will be assembled before him. ”

Matthew 25:31

Pope Benedict XVI, has spoken of the power of Christ the King in this way: “It is not the power of the kings or the great people of this world; it is the divine power to give eternal life, to liberate from evil, to defeat the dominion of death. It is the power of Love that can draw good from evil, that can melt a hardened heart, bring peace amid the harshest conflict and kindle hope in the thickest darkness.”

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”  Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that 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.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” 

(John 18:33-38)

In the dialogue between Pilate and Jesus reminds us that Our Lord’s kingship is real, yet it is unlike political kingship. He did not come to rule over peoples and territories. For Him, to reign was to serve! His throne was the cross where He revealed His power, the power of love. With this power, Christ the King set people free from the slavery of sin and reconciled them to God the Father. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus witnessed to the truth that God is love. On Calvary, He witnessed this truth to the full with the sacrifice of His own life. He conquered Satan, the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31).

Lastly, let us ask Our Blessed Mother Mary that through her intercession may we all gain the grace we need to allow Jesus Christ to rule in our hearts and souls as we serve others for the love of him and seek to build his Kingdom of Love. 

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. AMEN.

Sunday, 23 November, 2014
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King)


Reading 1

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend my sheep.
I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered
when it was cloudy and dark.
I myself will pasture my sheep;
I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.
The lost I will seek out,
the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal,
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,
shepherding them rightly.

As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD,
I will judge between one sheep and another,
between rams and goats.


Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2

1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
When everything is subjected to him,
then the Son himself will also be subjected
to the one who subjected everything to him,
so that God may be all in all.

Gospel 

Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."

Feast Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Solemnity) ~ 2013

The Feast of Christ the King is a moveable feast. It is celebrated on the final Sunday of the liturgical year, which is the last Sunday before Advent starts. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925. This solemnity comes at the end of the liturgical year and brings together the mystery of Jesus firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. It is celebrated in the Roman Catholic church in honour of Jesus Christ as lord over all creation and it is also observed in Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant churches. During every Advent season, we the faithful await the "coming King", the King of peace and the light of hope that takes away the darkness forever at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus and also for the second coming of the Lord as which marks the end of times. Jesus was born of Judah tribe of Kings, came to serve all and his kingdom is divine. Today we are honouring Jesus the King who humbled himself in order to raise us up to the status of the Sons of God, a king who suffered the cruellest of deaths as a sacrificial Lamb of God so that we could have an unending life of happiness when we leave this earth at end of times when Jesus will come as the Lion of Judah, the righteous King and Judge.

Philippians 2:10-11

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

and every tongue acknowledge 

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

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. AMEN.

Sunday, November 24, 2013
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Solemnity)

Reading 1

2 Samuel 5: 1 - 3
1	Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh.
2	In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD said to you, `You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'"
3	So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Psalm

Psalms 122: 1 - 5
1	I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"
2	Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3	Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly together,
4	to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5	There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

Reading 2

Colossians 1: 12 - 20
12	giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
13	He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14	in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15	He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;
16	for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him.
17	He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18	He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.
19	For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell,
20	and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Gospel

Luke 23: 35 - 43
35	And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"
36	The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar,
37	and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38	There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
39	One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40	But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41	And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
42	And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43	And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Prayer to Christ the King

O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge Thee to be the King of the universe: all that has been made is created for Thee. Exercise over me all Thy sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my Baptism, renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps, and I engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life. And in an especial manner do I undertake to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and Thy Church, so far as in me lies. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my poor actions to obtain the acknowledgment by every heart of Thy sacred Kingly power. In such wise may the kingdom of Thy peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. Amen.

Prayer Source: How to Make Your House a Home by Rev. Bernard Stokes, O.F.M., Family Life Bureau, Washington D.C., 1955