Solemnity of Christ The King.

 

Why have the Feast of Christ the King?

Why have the Feast of Christ the King?

Pope Pius XI universally instituted The Feast of Christ the King in 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas. Pius XI, and the rest of the Christian world, witnessed the rise of dictatorships in Europe, and saw Catholics being taken in by these earthly leaders. Pope Pius connected the denial of Christ as king to the rise of secularism, since at the time of Quas Primas, secularism was on the rise, and many Christians, even Catholics, were doubting Christ's authority, as well as the Church's, and even doubting Christ's existence. 

It is interesting to observe that just as the Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted when devotion to the Eucharist was at a low point, the Feast of Christ the King was instituted during a time when respect for Christ and the Church was waning, when the feast was most needed. In fact, it is still needed today, as these problems have not vanished, but instead have worsened.

Pope Pius hoped the institution of the feast would have various effects. They were:

1. That nations would see that the Church has the right to freedom, and immunity from the state (Quas Primas, 32).
2. That leaders and nations would see that they are bound to give respect to Christ (Quas Primas, 31).
3. That the faithful would gain strength and courage from the celebration of the feast, as we are reminded that Christ must reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies (Quas Primas, 33).

Today, the same distrust of authority exists, although the problem has gotten worse. Individualism has been embraced to such an extreme, that for many, the only authority is the individual self. The idea of Christ as ruler is rejected in such a strongly individualistic system. Also, many balk at the idea of kings and queens, believing them to be oppressive. Some even reject the titles of "lord" and "king" for Christ because they believe that such titles are borrowed from oppressive systems of government. However true these statements might be (some kings have been oppressive), these individuals miss the point: Christ's kingship is one of humility and service. The following two scripture quotes support this view.  Jesus said:

'You know that those who are recognised as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:42-45, NAB).
and also:
'Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"... 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 (John 18:33b, 36-37).

Jesus knew the oppressive nature of secular kings, and in contrast to them, He connected His role as king to humble service, and commanded His followers to be servants as well. In other passages of Scripture, His kingdom is tied to His suffering and death. While Christ is coming to judge the nations, His teachings spell out a kingdom of justice and judgment balanced with radical love, mercy, peace, and forgiveness. 

PRESENT DAY.

 Christ the King Sunday used to be celebrated on the last Sunday of October, but since the calendar reforms of 1969, the feast falls on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, which is the Sunday before Advent. It is fitting that the feast celebrating Christ's kingship is observed right before Advent, when we liturgically wait for the promised Messiah (King).

As we celebrate this solemnity, we may thank God that Pope Pius XI' instituted this  feast of Christ the King because it reminds us that our allegiance is to our spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy in whatever form it takes in our lives.

When we celebrate Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one willing to die for humanity and whose "loving-kindness endures forever." Christ is the king that gives us true freedom, freedom in Him. Christ radically redefined and transformed the concept of Kingship.

Collect for Thirty Third Sunday of Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

 

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Thirty Third Year B reads as follows:

 

Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,

the constant gladness of being devoted to You,

for it is full and lasting happiness

to serve with constancy the author of all that is good.

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.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. How devoted am I to God and the things of God?

2. What change/s will I commit to this coming week to become more devoted to God?

3. How have I served God with constancy and the author of all that is good in my life?

4. How will I serve God with constancy this coming week?

5. Do I truly believe that God is the author of all that is good and provides His goodness to me each day for my life?

6. When life is difficult, sickness, unemployment, problems of every kind showing up in my life, do I still believe in God-the author of all that is good?

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 13:24-32. This Gospel teaches us:

1. To accept that the Father is the only one who knows the end of time.  To speculate, to listen to those who ‘know that we are in end times’ can be tempting but we do not need to fall for this trap. Today’s Gospel is quite clear- it is the Father alone who knows and not even His Son or the angels know.

2.  To know how to live our lives each day- to recognise the signs that God provides in the natural and to act upon them in faith where it is necessary.

3.To be ready to meet God whenever He calls us to Himself.  We need to live our lives each day as though it is our last.  We do not know when God will call us to Himself. We can try our best to please God each day by being in relationship with Him every day, by living our lives according to the Gospel values and asking forgiveness when we fail through the sacrament of Reconciliation. 

 

Are we ready to be called God’s chosen?   In the month of November, we remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  God in His great love knows that we are not perfect and when we leave this earth that most of us will need some purification, some cleansing and healing before we can be truly called God’s chosen.  We would not want to stand in the presence of God not purified since God is goodness itself.

 

Many people are frightened of the concept of Purgatory. There is no need to be afraid.  It is a place that God provides to help us to be truly read and to be our best selves in His Presence.  It is a beautiful gift God provides us after death to help us on our way to Him.  However, we do not need or should not wait until then to turn towards God.  God provides us with our lives here and now on earth to know, love and serve Him.  Yes, we will fail many times a day, but that should only encourage us to try again, to move forward and to give our best every day.  We do not need to be depressed when we fail.  We turn to Him and ask forgiveness and we can start again.

The Holy Souls in Purgatory can pray for us.  We can ask loved ones who have passed to help us.  The Church teaches us that these Holy Souls can pray for us but they are not able to pray for themselves.  They rely on our prayers, our sacrifices, our efforts to help them.  In November, the Catholic Church remembers them in a special way.  However, we need to keep them in our prayers, our actions and sufferings of the day every day.

There are many Holy Souls who have no one to pray for them or they have been forgotten. Are we going to forget these people too?  For example: if we have a particular fault, tendency to a particular sin, wny not ask the Holy Souls to pray for you. Why not ask the Holy Souls who had that particular difficulty or that tendency to that sin to pray for you and unite yourself with those people through prayer for them.  They need to atone for these sins but your prayer for them, your work for them will make all the difference. They will have a greater understanding of your difficulty/ your tendency to that sin, since they had it in varying degrees themselves whilst on earth.  They will pray for you to overcome but you can pray and offer your day for them so they may be healed and cleansed too.

November Is almost half way through but start today and pray for our loved ones who have passed but also for those we do not know personally but are in need of our prayers and our day to help them.  Include the Holy Souls in your day every day.  Why not start today at Mass, start today with a kind word, or withholding an unkind word, start today with a fault, a tendency to sin and ask the Holy Souls to help you. 

Let us help the Holy Souls every day not just in November.  They need us and we need them. Let us be united in our efforts to be called by God His Chosen in Heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

Collect for Thirty First Sunday Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Thirty First Year B reads as follows:

Almighty and merciful God,

by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service,

grant, we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling

to receive the things you have promised.

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.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does right and faithful service to God mean to me?

2. How will I give God right and faithful service this coming week?

3. What are the things God has promised that I would receive?

4. What are the stumbling blocks which hinder me from fully receiving all the promises that God wants to provide to me?

5. Which of these stumbling blocks in my life will I commit to changing this coming week?

6. Devise a plan/programme for a week/month to work on this area of change.

7. How will I be a better person by next Sunday?

.

 
 GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 12:28-34. This Gospel teaches us:

1. The importance of love of God

2. The importance of love of neighbour.

It is interesting to note that when hearing this gospel, many homilists focus on the importance of love of neighbour and exclude the importance of love of God.

There are many occasions where we can choose to love our neighbour.  It does not have to be a grand gesture.  Something as small as a smile, a kind word,  a helpful hand can be both helpful to the neighbour and the emotional wellbeing of the other person.  For example:  I was doing some baking this week.  However my oven decided it was not going to heat correctly.  I had my slice in the oven for 30 minutes and when I came to get it out, it was barely cooked if at all. 
This slice was not for myself as it had been promised and expected to another person.  What was I to do?

I rang my neigbour next door and asked if I could put  it in her oven.  She willingly said yes and whilst it was in the oven, we sat and had a chat.  She had been doing some entertaining the night before and she was tired. She could have easily said no because of her tiredness or she could have said no just because she could not be bothered to help out.  Although she is not a believer, she still showed neigbourly help to provide for my rather desperate need at that point. She was a good neighbour for me.

For Christians though, often we have to go the extra mile, do something we don’t want to do, or God asks us to do something we don’t understand or does not seem logical to us.  If we truly love God,  we will say yes simply because we love God with our whole heart and soul and mind.  If we only do something to help our neighbour but we do it grudgingly, or without any love of God, then we are missing out on the blessing God wants to give us.  Every action we do, we say, we think- every waking moment must be to the honour and glory of God.  If God is first place in our lives and is our best friend, then we will want to love Him more and more.  From that love of God then the actions will follow.

In my view it does not work the other way around. Yes, it is good to love our neighbour and do what we can to help. If we stop there then the whole purpose is missing. 

Every day we have countless ways of showing that we love God- first by being in relationship with Him and spending time in prayer with Him.  Then throughout the day, there are countless opportunities to demonstrate that love of God through our thoughts, words, actions and sufferings too.  However the day unfolds we can keep connected with God who loves us and with His help we too can show our love for Him.

Collect for 29th Sunday Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass_ Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Twenty Ninth Year B reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

grant that we may always conform our will to Yours

and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.

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.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1.What is God’s will for me in my life and for this coming week?

2. What action/s will I take to conform my life to God’s will this coming week?

3. Examine the areas in my life which are presently not according to God’s will?

4. How do I serve Your majesty-what does this mean to me?

5. What means does the church provide to assist us to live according to God’s will in our lives?

6. How sincere is my relationship with God currently? What  areas need to change?

.GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 10:35-45 10:17-30. This Gospel teaches us:

1. To be at peace where God places us.

2. To not be jealous of other people’s position or changed circumstances for the better especially when our own is not changing or seemingly getting worse.

3. To accept that God’s way is not our way but God’s way is always better. We must hold onto our faith, hope and love in God knowing that God will always provide the best option for us.

4.God is all loving and knows our struggles.  We do not have to carry our burden alone since He has redeemed us through His passion, death and resurrection.  We need to journey with Him each day and allow Jesus to carry our daily load. Jesus is always willing to carry the heavier parts. We only need to carry the load of the day with Him.

 

With James and John, let us tell Jesus that we are ready to follow Him on the path to Calvary; that we are ready to drink the cup of sufferings which He drank and to be immersed in the sorrows which he endured. He went through all of this for us; we are doing it for our own sakes. He carried the real cross—ours is light when compared with His; furthermore, Jesus will help us to bear our daily trial and struggles. How could we become weary and fainthearted when we have Christ helping us on the road?

We do not walk the way of the world. We are in the world but not of the world. We need to walk the path less travelled this coming week since our homeland is in Heaven.

Collect for 28th Sunday of Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Twenty Eighth Year B reads as follows:

 

May your grace, O Lord, we pray,

at all times go before us and follow after

and make us always determined

to carry out good works.

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.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What is Grace?

2. How has God’s grace been with you this last week?

3. What areas in my life need God’s grace to go before me this coming week?

4. How can I be a gift of God’s grace to my family, parishioners, work colleagues and to all I meet this coming week?

5. Am I determined to carry out good works this coming week?

6. What good works will I carry out through God’s grace this coming week?

.

 GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 10:17-30. This Gospel teaches us:

1. Come to Jesus with our problems. Jesus is ready to listen.

2.Over attachment to worldly goods is a big obstacle to entering Heaven. In our modern day we talk about decluttering so we can be freer. Jesus gives us today in the Gospel a very good reason to not only declutter our homes but more importantly declutter our souls in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus will set us free.

3. Have an open heart and keep the commandments but to be a closer follower of Jesus- to have a true relationship with Him.

4. Value the goal and be determined to live a life worthy of eternal life in this world.  Do we want to be like the rich man and be so attached to our life here on earth that we do nothing to prepare for our eternal life?  We are on earth to live but to live with a purpose, to live for eternal life. Being with God in Heaven is our goal. The price may be high at times in what Jesus asks of us. Are you willing to pay the price for the sake of eternal life?

 The man in this story was a good-living man, he kept all the commandments from his youth upward and he had an interest in eternal life, while many of his compatriots of that day had not. Reading this man's heart like an open book, Christ saw that not only was he fit for eternal life but that he was one who could have a very high place in heaven if he would leave everything and become a close follower of his. Not only would he become a saint, but he would lead many to sanctity.

The remark of Jesus to the disciples later: "how hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God" holds for all time and for all mankind.

This statement of Christ, however, does not mean that a follower may not possess any of this world's goods. He may possess and use those goods, but what he must not do is to allow them to take such a hold on him that he has no time for acquiring everlasting goods— the Christian virtues.

 Unfortunately, there are Christians whose whole purpose in this life is the accumulation of worldly goods. Concentration on such accumulation is wrong, but in many cases the methods of acquisition are unjust: defrauding laborers of their just wages; overcharging customers; cheating in business deals; giving false measures and many other devices which produce unearned wealth.

All this is far from Christian justice, and those who have let such sinful greed to regulate their lives are certainly not on the road to heaven. There are other sins, of course, which can keep us from heaven, but of all the sins a man can commit this irrational greed for the wealth of this world seems the most unreasonable of them all. How utterly inane and foolish to have spent a lifetime collecting something from which we shall soon be parted forever! The rich man's bank-book and his gilt-edged shares will be not only valueless in the after-life but they, if unjustly acquired, will be witnesses for the prosecution at the judgment on which one's eternal future depends.

While most of us are not guilty of such excessive greed for wealth, we all do need to examine our consciences as to how we acquire and use the limited wealth we have. There are very rich men who have acquired their wealth honestly and justly and who spend much of their wealth on charitable causes. Their wealth will not hinder them from reaching heaven.

On the other hand, on a lower- or middle-income bracket, we cannot excuse ourselves. We may not be able to found a hospital for the poor, or pay an annuity to support the family of a disabled fellow workman, but we are not excused from bringing a little gift to our neighbours who are in hospital, or from supplying even part of a meal for the dependants of the injured workman.

Also, we need to ensure that we may be offending against justice through the means we use to acquire what we have, and in the little helps which we refuse to a needy neighbour.

We may wish to reread the Gospel story of the widow’s mite. Remember that Christ praised the widow who put a mite (a cent) into the collection-box for the poor in the temple area, and he also said that a cup of cold water given in his name would not go without reward. We need not be rich in order to be charitable; often our own exaggerated sense of our poverty can make us hard-hearted and mean toward our fellowmen who look to us for help.

Today’s Gospel therefore reminds us that the true Christian, a true follower of Christ whose principal purpose in life is to serve God, will not overburden himself/ herself  with unnecessary pieces of luggage; instead he/she will travel light and be ever ready to help others also to carry their burdens.

The other aspect of travelling light is not carrying the burden of sin with us.  Jesus is wanting to be merciful to us.  In this time of pandemic, we may not be able to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  However, we can come to God each day and ask His forgiveness.  We can prepare too for that encounter in the Sacrament by being ready for the sacrament.  We may want to really take a good look at ourselves in the light of the Gospel and in the light of this Gospel. 

Praying the Rosary in October

 

PRAYER SERIES.

Holy Spirit: Prayer Series Icon.

PRAYING THE ROSARY IN OCTOBER.

 

Yesterday I joined an online Rosary for the commencement of the 5^th Plenary Council in Australia and for the end to the pandemic.  They prayed in one hour the whole rosary- 20 decades, that is Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious.

I have to say that as I was praying the Rosary for these intentions that I realised that I had not prayed the whole Rosary in the one session for a long time. It was indeed an hour well spent.

 

October is the month of the Rosary since the Feast of the Holy Rosary falls on 7^th October.  It is a month to honour Mary. 

Notice I use the honour.  Many people mistakenly think that Catholics worship Mary. No, we worship God and God alone but  we honour Mary since although she was without sin from her conception, she was a member of the human race.

 

I have to say from the outset that although I was brought up saying the Rosary, I did not say it regularly myself alone but of course said joined in reciting it before or after Mass over the years. However, during the pandemic and the extended lockdown that Melbourne has had, I started reciting the Rosary most days.

As I had not recited it on my own, I chose to start with a decade a day for a week, then 2 the following week and so on.   What I found though is that once I got into the habit of stopping what I was doing and setting aside some time daily, that it became easier to get into the rhythm of it.

Many people dislike the repetitiveness of the Rosary.  It is in the repetitiveness of the vocal prayers that there is the opportunity to meditate upon the mystery being recited.  I found that having a short scripture quote for each of the mysteries was very helpful not only at the beginning of each mystery but also for times when my mind started to wander.  I would stop and read aloud the scripture quote again to help me refocus.

 

When we pray, it is of course our intention that is vital.  We may feel tired or stressed or have physical ailments that nag us.  However, if our intention is to meditate on the life of Christ through the lens of Mary, then whatever shortcomings may beset us, we may be sure that God will be pleased with our effort.

 

What difference can you make during October by saying the Rosary?

1f you have not said a decade of the Rosary or a set of mysteries or the whole Rosary for ages, then start small and warm into it at your pace.

Perhaps 10 Hail Mary’s may seem too much especially if you have the view that the Rosary is too repetitive.  Then start with 2 Hail Mary’s the first day for 2 days, then 4 for the next 2 days and so on.  Obviously change it up to suit your needs.  The advantage of 2 could be that you say 2 Hail Mary’s in the morning and 2 in the evening.

This could be a way of introducing it and praying the Rosary with your family. Dont hit them with the 20 Decades first day.!!!  However there may be a time that you organise with your family for these 2 Hail Marys.  You could also ask your family to name the intention for these 2 Hail Mary’s. You could start this process with them during October and then continue on throughout the year, gradually increasing it as is appropriate or keeping it at the 2 Hail Marys.

My experience of appreciating the Rosary more is being consistent in reciting it and using the Scripture to remind me and to help me focus when my mind wanders.  It happens when I am tired or stressed. I have been known to fall asleep half way through the decade.  Obviously, this is less likely to happen when the Rosary is being recited with other people. Still, I take comfort in the thought that God knows I am trying and that Heaven is praying with me too.  When I wake up, I am refreshed and I continue on where I left off.

 

So this is one way you could start your own tradition and/or the tradition of your family during October and beyond. Choose your pace, your needs and what you can consistently manage for yourself and/or your family and start today.

Collect for 27th Sunday of Year B

 

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass: Collect Icon.

COLLECT 

The Collect for the Twenty Seventh Sunday Year B reads as follows:

 

Almighty ever-living God,

who in the abundance of Your kindness

surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you,

pour out Your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads

and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.

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.

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1 How has God shown me abundance and kindness in my life/during this past week?

2. How have I expressed this gratitude to God for this great abundance and kindness?

3.Make a list of desires which would give you the most joy.  Watch in God’s time how He gives and surpasses my desires at what I think would have made me happy.

4.What areas in my life do I need God’s mercy?

5. What is my attitude to the Sacrament of God’s mercy- Reconciliation? What hindrances do I experience  and how I can I delve deeper into this sacrament?

6. What do I dare not ask God?  Why not ask it this week.

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 The Gospel is from St Mark 10:2-16.  It is divided into two sections.  On the first section which relates to "divorce", Jesus reiterates what was in the Book of Genesis, 2:18-24 which clearly states that from the very beginning, God's plan for marriage was that it should be a life-long unity of one man and one woman. Its purpose is the procreation of children and their education, as well as the mutual love and fulfillment of the husband and wife. These demand this life-long bond. Divorce, which tries to break this bond, breaks the law of the Creator who decreed what was best for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the human race.

The second section of today's Gospel describe an incident which is in no way connected with the previous section, but which has a very useful lesson for all Christians. It describes Christ's love for children and while manifesting this love he stresses the need for all his true followers to be childlike. "I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

To receive the kingdom of God is to accept the teaching of Christ and live according to it in his kingdom on earth. He who does this will enter, after death, into the eternal kingdom of heaven. Christ says, however, that we must accept "like a child": his kingdom on earth, his teaching and the Church he founded to carry on that teaching. Of course, this does not mean: in a childish way, an unthinking, uneducated way, but in a child-like way-a humble, grateful, receptive way. A child is unselfconscious, content to be dependent on others' care and generosity. Christianity is a gift of the generous God to us, we have done nothing and never could do anything to merit it. We must accept it simply and gratefully as a gift; we could never deserve it.

We may wish to reclaim our inheritance as we think of ourselves as a child of God.  Yet we may wish to reflect upon whether we truly are living it as a child of God. If not, resolve to make one change this coming week. Start the process of becoming a child of God in its fullest sense.

The assent of the intellect to the doctrine revealed by Christ is not sufficient of itself for a Christian to earn the eternal kingdom; faith is the total acceptance and commitment of the believer to God through Jesus Christ. A person of true faith commits himself/herself to God with a filial childlike trust, assured that if he/she does all that he can God will do the rest. In fact why not ask our Heavenly Father what to do  and how to do our tasks. Asking God for help is essential but we can also ask Him before we begin a task/duty. Perhaps we have so many tasks to do and we don’t know where to start. Ask your heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, our Christian faith must be childlike, a trusting, humble and obedient faith. This is the kind of faith that will move mountains—the mountains that loom so large in the vision of too many Christians today—the mountains of doubt, selfishness, unwillingness to be subjected to authority. Christ asks us, if we would be his followers: to take up our daily cross and climb the way to Calvary after him. This daily cross is made of the troubles and trials of life from which no one can escape. They can be borne with reluctance and grumbling or they can be accepted as the loving God's means of training us for the future life. Every true Christian accepts his trials in the latter way, for if he is true to his faith he knows that his years on earth are his apprenticeship to prepare him for his eternal life.

God is surely not asking too much of us when he asks us to live our Christian faith in childlike humility, candour and confidence during the days of our pilgrimage on this earth.

Let us live this coming week with passion, enthusiasm and joy despite the difficulties of our personal lives and the global pandemic.