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November 24, 2019
Once Again, We Come to an Incredible Conclusion
Today we come to the end of our liturgical year. For 52 weeks, we have been immersed in the mysteries of our faith as seen through the eyes and words of Jesus Christ.
In Advent, we followed John the Baptist’s lead and prepared the way for him to come into our world and our lives. At Christmas, we celebrated the season knowing the incredible good news that, in Jesus Christ, God is with us. In Lent, we found new ways of seeing others as we tried to overcome bad habits and renew our relationships, especially our relationship with Christ. It prepared us for the Paschal Feast of Easter—50 days of celebrating the incredible reality that Jesus Christ is Resurrected and has opened the gates of heaven.
In the Ordinary Times in between, we’ve been focused on Jesus’ words and example that help us grow as disciples of Christ and be the Church in our community—the Body of Christ in which we are a part.
It all leads to an incredible conclusion that becomes the focus of our Mass today: Jesus Christ is our Lord, the King of the Universe! For that, we give God thanks and praise.
In the gospel, Luke will take us to Jesus’ time on the cross. Those who put him to death are trying to make fun of him by putting a sign above his head that reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Our crucifixes still include the inscription INRI (the first letters of that phrase in Greek). What was a joke to those who tortured Jesus, actually spoke the truth. That’s the irony. The crucifix, meant to put Jesus to death once and for all, for us is a symbol of a life with God that’s never meant to end. The cross wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.
Those who believe understood it…like the good thief on the cross next to Jesus. When the good thief asked Jesus to remember him when he entered his kingdom, Jesus did more than remember him. He took him by the hand and led him into paradise.
The king has a kingdom, and we’re a part of it. It’s what draws us together, week after week. We share life with Christ our King whenever we receive the Eucharist (which is a Greek word that means “thanksgiving”). And that helps us realize that the Kingdom of God isn’t something we have to wait for. It’s already in our midst, ready to embrace those who want to be with him in paradise. The King of the Universe isn’t a title for the future, but the present.
In Thanksgiving for all of You!
As we enter this week when we’ll celebrate our national Thanksgiving holiday, I sincerely want to wish you all the best. I give thanks to God for being a part of this community of faith that has a mission, not just hear the gospel proclaimed, but to live it through the good things we accomplish together in a spirit of trust.
I pray that your time this week with family and friends will be uplifting. There’s something unspoken, but important about making time to be together—especially around a table and at a meal. As much as we love the food that’s a part of the feast, what makes it meaningful is being there. In a world of social media, technology and living on-line, a few hours of face-to-face will hit the heart deeper than a tweet, a post or a comment to the masses. Jesus encourages us to be present in the present, maybe because he knows it can lead to a grateful heart.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Fr. Mike