Solemnity of Christ the King (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections:  (from) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

November 23, 2014
Liturgical readings
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Psalm 23
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said: "Come, you have my Father's blessing."

It is easy to make Jesus the King of one's heart when there is already a resolve to offer every prayer and work for Him. And there are some who are even fortunate to have the time to assist at daily or Sunday Mass. But whether one is involved in an apostolate at this time or not, what is important in both is the discipline to see the one thing necessary in life: to make the Lord as the King of one's heart, and to make an effort to make others see Him in their life. Not all give the Lord importance. One must be careful not to occupy himself with too much temporal concerns; otherwise, it will blur the vision of seeing God and the needs of others. Having a "contemplative view" of life can help see the hand of God as the source of all blessings.

To have a contemplative view of life, a good practice is the daily examination of conscience: to see all the blessings God has given during the day; to be sorry for the vices of thought & sins committed; and to make a resolve to do better the next day. Daily examination of conscience can help anyone see his faults better in the light of prayer. And it will help all who practice the discipline to see Christ not only in everyone, but also in one's soul. When there is a discipline to make God the center and King of all things in life and work, then one can do works of charity in all social settings: in the home, the workplace, and even in social media - which is in dire need of the spirit of the gospel. If this prayer routine becomes a good habit, then even in the hardest of times, one will not fear the Lord say to one's soul: "Out of my sight, you condemned, into that everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!". Rather, one's soul would rejoice in the knowledge that Christ will say, "Come, you have my Father's blessing".


Scripture quote:
"The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, shepherding them rightly, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy." (Ezekiel 34)

Memorial of Saints (November 21)

The Presentation of Mary is a feast rooted in the Church's ancient tradition. Tradition says that Mary was brought to the Temple of Jerusalem, at the age of three, to be consecrated to the Lord. She remained in the Temple for years until the age of fifteen, when she was returned to her family with purity and wholesomeness.

St. Albert of Louvain became an archdeacon of Brabant. In 1191 A.D., he was elected bishop of Liege. There was some conflict over this episcopate with Albert's cousin. But when Albert appealed to Pope Celestine III, the pope declared Albert's election as bishop valid. Because of this and other related conflicts, St. Albert was killed while on his way to Saint-Remi abbey (died ca. 1202 A.D.).

St. Amalberga married and had three children. When her spouse decided to become a Benedictine monk, Amalberga also entered the Benedictines as a nun in Flanders. It was in this abbey in Mauberg, Flanders, where St. Amalberga lived in holiness and spent the rest of her life devoted to prayer and the Benedictine way of life (died ca. 690 A.D.).

St. Gelasius I was elected pope on March 1, 492 A.D., succeeding Pope Felix. Gelasius was very much involved in defending the rights of the patriarchates of Alexandria and Antioch, because these patriarchates were being encroached upon by the patriarchate of Constantinople. Aside from this involvement, St. Gelasius also ordered the reception of the Eucharistic species in both forms (bread and wine) - something that is being done in post-Vatican II Eucharistic worship and liturgy (died ca. 496 A.D.).

Memorial of Saints (November 20)

St. Bernward was orphaned at an early age, but his uncle, a bishop of the Netherlands, took care of him. Bernward entered the priesthood and became the imperial chaplain and tutor of the child-Emperor, Otto III. In 993 A.D., he became the bishop of Hildesheim. People looked up to him because of his holiness and skill in artwork. He built the church and monastery dedicated to St. Michael. After 30 years as bishop, he retired to a Benedictine monastery.

St. Felix of Valois founded together with St. John of Matha, the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (the Trinitarians). The mission of the Order is to ransom captives from the Moors. St. John worked in Spain, while St. Felix administered the French province of the Order. By 1240 A.D., the Trinitarian Order had some six hundred monasteries (died ca. 1212 A.D.).

St. Edmund the Martyr was the king of East Anglia - an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom. During the great war with the Vikings (the Danes) in 869-870 A.D., he was defeated and captured. Edmund refused to renounce the Christian faith. He was first scourged, shot with arrows and beheaded at Hellesden. His body was found incorrupt in ca. 915 A.D. and was transferred to a place near Bedricsworth (died ca. 870 A.D.).

St. Dasius was a Roman soldier at Durostorum (in Bulgaria). He was chosen by his companions to be the leader of the saturnalia - a pagan ritual to the pagan god Kronos. Because Dasius was Christian, he refused to participate in this pagan ritual. When he continued to resist and also to refuse to sacrifice before the image of the Emperor, he was beheaded (died ca. 303 A.D.).

St. Nerses of Sahgerd was arrested together with his disciple Joseph. This was the time of the Christian persecutions in Persia under Sapor II. Nerses and Joseph were brought before the King and were offered their freedom if they would worship the sun. When Nerses refused to worship the sun, he and Joseph were beheaded (died ca. 343 A.D.).