November 21, 2021: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

We conclude the liturgical year on a triumphant note as we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.  Even in a democracy where we elect leaders, this Feast has much to say to us about Kingship, even as Joe Biden celebrated his first birthday as US president on Saturday, November 20.

We rejoice on this Feast that Christ truly is our King, as depicted in the glorious visions of the first two readings and the responsorial Psalm.

Christ indeed has great power, but not necessarily in the way we humans might understand it.

The Gospel reading has a very profound account of a conversation between Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ.  While Governor Pilate has the power to execute Jesus, looking more deeply at this conversation, it is really Jesus Who is in charge and Governor Pilate who is on trial for His refusal to acknowledge the Truth before him.

Jesus makes it clear His Kingdom transcends this world, and as a King, He stands for the Truth.  Furthermore, He is willing to lay down His life for His people so that, freed from sin, we can be transformed by that Truth to live in the ways of the Kingdom.  

He Who once was slain now lives forever and ever, rightly attaining the great power and glory that is His, as described in the glorious visions of the first two readings as the psalm.

As people of Christ's Kingdom, we follow in His way to greatness by laying down our lives, living in the Truth that He is.

I also think about how November 21 is the day the Mayflower Compact was signed.  It was a remarkable event when people came together to freely consent to the formation of a new government, and the Pilgrims did so in the spirit of acknowledging the reality of the Kingdom of God present among them and at work in their new colony.

Normally on November 21, we would celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As the first disciple, we look to her example and present ourselves before God's presence, acknowledging His reign that enters into our hearts as we follow His way.

Indeed, we can participate in the invocation in the Lord's Prayer that His Kingdom come to Earth as it is in Heaven by living the ways of the Kingdom that He imparts to us.

November 14, 2021: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus Christ has come and offered the one perfect sacrifice of Himself to redeem us from sin and restore us to right relationship with God.

Now, as the Epistle to the Hebrews states, He is awaiting the end of Time and the vanquishing of His enemies, as His "footstool".

Right before His death in crucifixion, Jesus discusses the End of Time.  He exhorts HIs disciples to notice the signs pointing to the End of Time, so that they can be ready.

His Words are firm, and will come to pass, even as Heaven and Earth pass away.

At the end of Time, there will be punishment for evil-doing, but also rewards for living in the righteous that God grants us through Christ.

Christ has set us apart by consecrating us so that we can live this righteousness.

Indeed, as people of faith, following His way, we are called to live in the righteousness God imparts to us, as an inheritance, through the Paschal Mystery, so that we are living to be ready for the End, and with purpose now.

November 9, 2021: Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica

We gather in Church buildings and show that we, as a people called by faith, are Church.

We are living stones that build a Temple where God dwells and makes His presence known to the world.

We are bound as a Church, a living body, by the death and Resurrection of Christ, through which God has made us His people and made us to be Church.

November 7, 2021: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Even with large donations at the Temple treasury, Jesus commends the act of a widow who contributes a small amount, but with great cost, as she gives, out of her poverty, all she had, "her whole livelihood", as Jesus describes.

God just as well honors the acts of a widow who Elijah visits in Zarephath.  She had faith that God would provide, and so she offers something to Elijah, whose words come true, when her jug of oil and her jar of flour don't run dry for a year, until the famine ends.

God honors these sacrificial acts that cost the giver much, because it demonstrates how Christ gave of Himself completely on the Cross to redeem us from sin.  We follow His way now, trusting in Him, and give of ourselves in the name of our Savior.  And as we draw toward the end of the liturgical year, and ponder the end of Time, we long for Christ to come again and bring the fullness of salvation that He has won for us by His offering.  And we see signs of this salvation as live, mindful of His coming, by living His example, especially for the least among us.

I attended Mass at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Chicago's Austin neighborhood today.  The pastor, Father Thadeo, talked at length in his homily about St. Martin, whose feast day was on November 3.  St. Martin is a great example of what it means to give of oneself in the spirit of Christ's sacrificial offering of Himself.

November 2, 2021: All Souls' Day

By His Death and Resurrection, Christ is victorious, holding the power of death.

He redeemed it, so that through death, we, too can enter newness of Life.

It gives us hope for those who have gone on before us in faith, and for us to live with purpose now.

November 1, 2021: Feast of All Saints

We celebrate all the saints, known and unknown, canonized and uncanonized, because we recognize how they answered the universal call to holiness.

And we recognize that the same call is on us, and God has equipped us to be saints, too.  We strive to reflect God's character in holy living, acknowledging the reality of the Kingdom of God that is advancing in this world, even as we wait for the day when we join the great throng of God's redeemed people praising Him in Heaven.

Such a glorious vision gives us a great sense of purpose now, to strive as the saints in Heaven once did on earth, by faith.

October 31, 2021: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

How delightful that we celebrate the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time on October 31.

The Mosaic Law prescribed sacrifices for the people of Israel, put it points to a higher reality, when Moses, the first reading from Deuteronomy, tells the people to love the Lord with all that they are.

Jesus underscores this commandment, and ties it with the command to love one's neighbor, as the greatest commandment, transcending the sacrifices and offerings so that the people are filled with love.

Jesus showed this love as our Great High Priest, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice to restore us to right relationship with God.

Having show us such great Love, which makes God present, we now live in that love and so offer ourselves to loving others.  Furthermore, we broaden our understanding of who our neighbors are to include all those whom we encounter, beyond just those we relate to the most.  Giving of ourselves to broadly truly manifests God's love.

A great example of someone who poured himself out in the spirit of God's love is Blessed Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, who was beatified one year ago this day.  The Knights continue his mission as they give of themselves in service to building up strong families, strong parishes, and strong communities.