Community Word:
The sovereignty of Christ is the firm foundation of our faith.
Order:
“Direct your hearts to the love of God.” (2 Thes 3:5)
Reflection:
The liturgical readings for November reminds us of two realities – first, that suffering and trials will be with us always while we live on earth, and the other is, we will attain the promise of eternal happiness if we persevere in our faith and allow Christ to rule our life. We are called to have unfailing courage in the midst of our trials, and a joyful hope towards a promised life without sadness, tears, sickness, and death, but eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
The theme for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time is: Christ is sovereign in our life when we put our hope in His promise of eternal life. This week’s readings allow us to ponder on God’s word about death, the inevitable end of our earthly existence, and the beginning of eternity. The first reading tells the story of seven courageous brothers who, with their mother, endure martyrdom rather than violate their conscience and their Jewish faith. Persevering in faith, they believe that everything in life comes from God and they are confident that death is but a door to resurrection where God will reward the just and the faithful.
After our earthly life, our souls need not be lost and suffer decay, but are led to a joyful hope of seeing God’s glory, as promised in 2 Thessalonian 2:16, “Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace.” The second reading guides us on how to prepare for our eternal reward. Our life’s race to the finish line is all about love in our hearts and our works. Love for God necessarily overflows into a godly love for all – godly charity. Finally, in the gospel, Jesus shows us a vision of eternity. He knows all about eternity because He comes from God, that eternity is an afterlife of indescribable beauty and unfathomable happiness. For us who follow Jesus, death is the gateway to a beautiful reality – the Beatific Vision of God to enjoy for all eternity.
The theme for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time is: Christ is sovereign in our life when we remain in God’s word, and God’s word remains in us. How do we prepare for the end of the world? Significantly, as the Church is about to end its liturgical year, the apocalyptic readings about the end of time are being highlighted. The coming end is being described in the Old Testament and is being re-told in the gospel reading. There will be earthquakes, plagues, famines all over and people will suffer. There will be confusion and panic. There will be wars, fighting and division among people and nations. Even those who follow the Lord and live their lives in the Lord will not be spared. But the glory of the Lord will make the difference as not a single hair on one’s head will be destroyed.
In Luke’s gospel, the Lord cautions us on how to prepare when the end is near, not to sow terror and fear, but to teach the people on what to do and how to look at things in the day comes. In our world and even in our country today, we are faced with all forms of destruction. There are horrible and destructive events caused by natural and man-made disasters that haunt, destroy and victimize mankind. In all these, Jesus tells us to trust in the Lord only, be steadfast and persevering. He assures us: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives,” (Lk 21:19).
The theme for the Solemnity of Christ the King is: Christ is sovereign in our life when we proclaim Him as our God and King. Obviously, the crucifixion scene is not a scene fit for a king. The Jews simply jeered at the crucified Christ – “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” But there was one man who believed that Jesus was God and He truly has a kingdom. He pleaded to Jesus – “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” There was nothing that Jesus could do for him on the cross or save him from mortal death, but He promised him much more. He gave him eternity itself: “Today you will be with me in Paradise,” (Lk23:43).
To gain eternal life we must proclaim Christ as our Lord and Savior. In the 2nd reading, St. Paul tells us that we have been redeemed and delivered from the power of darkness (Satan and sin) and “transferred” to the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. We must live honoring the sovereignty of Christ as God and King, for in Him all things were created. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, where all things hold together.
Just as Jesus promised eternal life to the criminal on the cross because of his faith, so also us, that by the very act of Jesus sacrificing and dying on the cross, He saved us and gave us back our heavenly inheritance. St. Paul assures us this promise: “The Father has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones,” (Col 1:12).
reflection november 2016 final
