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Solemnity of Christ the King, Cycle C

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In today’s First Reading the tribes of Israel come to David and acknowledge them as their king. In today’s solemnity believers in Heaven and on earth acknowledge Our Lord and Redeemer as the King of not just an earthly kingdom, but of all creation, a reign that will only fully be revealed at the end of time.

Today’s Second Reading reminds us that we’ve already become a part of his kingdom, rescued through baptism from the reign of sin and death that oppresses and dominates a fallen world. All of creation was made with the Son in mind, and all of creation becomes his throne from which he conquers sin and death in order to present the kingdom to Our Heavenly Father at the end of time. Therefore today, the last Sunday this year in Ordinary time, we remember Our Lord reigning from his cross, but especially the day when he will return in glory and his reign will be total and complete.

The good thief crucified alongside Our Lord in today’s Gospel thought he would only be remembered in the kingdom to come, and Our Lord promised him paradise. We were born into sin and death, original sin, and rescued through Baptism, but we can return to slavery if we don’t turn to Our Lord repentant and ask to be remembered in his kingdom. Let’s ask him to reign in our lives, today and forever.

Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1–3; Psalm 122:1–5; Colossians 1:12–20; Luke 23:35–43. See also Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Cycle B and Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II

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Today’s First Reading is a part of John’s Revelation that is difficult to decipher, because John communicates many things in the same set of symbols. John is speaking in symbols to the Christians of his time regarding the persecution of Rome; the “beast” here refers to Nero as much as it refers to the antichrist. The two prophets, in a context of Roman persecution, could be Saints Peter and Paul, who were both martyred there during the persecution of Nero. The symbolism of the olive tree and lamp stands means that they are martyrs (in Zechariah 4:8-14, olive trees refer to the anointed witnesses Joshua and Zerubbabel), not to mention their fate at the hands of the people’s incredulity and the beast who didn’t accept their message. Yet the passage is full of symbolism taken from the most miraculous prophets (Elijah), Moses (pronouncing plagues upon “Egypt”), and Enoch (who was taken up into Heaven). Rome is branded as “Sodom” and “Egypt” for its immorality and oppression of God’s people. Some scholars believe it refers to the Church as a whole, and Saint Peter and Paul are co-patrons of Rome and could easily represent the whole Church.

The fire that comes from their mouths could also be seen as a purifying fire: if you’re impure, you’ll simply be burned away, but the purity in you will be refined. This could represent the fire of truth: the Gospel. Everyone appreciates a fiery preacher, and they epitomize that quality because they’re preaching the unadulterated truth of the Gospel with fire and conviction. The two prophets seem to share the fate of all prophets: they rub their incredulous listeners the wrong way, and, eventually, are killed to silence the message they’re bearing. However, in this case it takes the epitome of lies and evil, the beast, to bring them down. It brings something new: the greatest calamity that could befall them (evil and death) are powerless in the light of eternal life. They’re not only restored to life, but taken up into Heaven. Until this point of salvation history being taken up was something either shrouded in mystery (as in the case of Enoch) or only witnessed by a faithful few (for example, Elijah and Our Lord himself at his Ascension). Now the wicked as well as the righteous see it, an allusion to the revelation of God’s designs now being manifest for all, something that will only happen in the end times.

When we’re faced with evil and death as the ultimate deterrents of this world we must follow the example of the two prophets in today’s readings and not shy away from preaching the Gospel with conviction. We are all those witnesses, and we’ll be rejected, scorned, and even killed for our belief, but in faith we know that evil and death will not have the last word

Readings: Revelation 11:4–12; Psalm 144:1–2, 9–10; Luke 20:27–40.  See also 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, and 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday.

33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading the apostle and evangelist John’s visions of the end time continue with the vision of a mighty angel standing on land and sea bearing a small scroll. John approaches and asks for the scroll. The angel straddling land and sea symbolizes that the message he is bearing, represented by the scroll, is meant for everyone. John asks for the scroll and is instructed to eat the scroll, which is sweet to the taste, but sour to the stomach. The message is sweet because it predicts the final victory of God’s people, but also sour because it’ll be a hard won victory: the message also announces the suffering of God’s people.

As Christians this prediction should not shock us: Our Lord said we had to take up our cross and follow him, and that anyone who sought to save his life would lose it. Christianity without crosses is incomplete; it wouldn’t event represent the Christianity of its Founder. We will also face suffering and persecution for being part of God’s people, but we continue in hope knowing that the victory has already been won by Our Lord.

Whether we’re oblivious or defeatist, today’s message is a call to hope and perseverance. Let’s not shy away from suffering, because it is the path to victory.

Readings: Revelation 10:8–11; Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Luke 19:45–48. See also 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday and 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, Year I.

 

33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, Year II

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The Lamb in today’s First Reading is the Risen Christ, and a vision of Heaven wouldn’t be complete without the Lamb who “seemed to have been slain,” yet lives. Even after Our Lord’s Resurrection he bears the wounds of the crucifixion. His “seven horns” and “seven eyes” symbolize the fullness of power (horns) and knowledge (eyes) that he possesses. He is also the Messiah: a descendant of David, who in turn was descended from the tribe of Judah. As lion, which we saw yesterday, he is the noblest of the tribe of Judah and of David’s line.

The scroll with seven seals is at the right hand of God to show its importance, and its seven seals show that it is totally hidden from all but God, which is why the Lamb is the only one who can open it: it is the Lord’s saving plan in its entirety, a plan that Our Lord alone was able to accomplish. For us God’s saving plan is always shrouded in mystery. John is grateful and we should be too: as today’s First Reading reminds us, Our Lord redeemed us with his blood, all of us, whether we accept it or not.

The elders bear the prayers of the saints as incense; those prayers are our prayers. A speck of incense is small, but it does reach God. Let’s pray not only in thanksgiving, but for our redemption and the redemption of the whole world. The Lamb’s blood has been shed for that purpose.

Readings: Revelation 5:1–10; Psalm 149:1b–6a, 9b; Luke 19:41–44. See also 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday.

33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday, Year II

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In today’s First Reading John is given a glimpse of what Heaven will be like in the future. The imagery may be a little strange and disconcerting if you try to picture it literally; John is trying to express symbolically what it will be like and who will be there. The four living creatures symbolize the presence of all creation, and the eyes covering them symbolize God’s knowledge and concern for them. The lion, calf, man and eagle represent what is what is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation. The twenty-four elder represent the Twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of Israel, and the seven spirits of God represent seven angels who stand in God’s presence (two of which we know as Gabriel and Raphael). Lastly, the thunder and lightning are typically signs of God’s appearance and activity.

This vision of Heaven may not entirely quad with our own: are we just going to be falling on our faces forever telling the Lord how great he is? The question should be, what would give us reason to do so? If you remember fondly your high school graduation you remember it like a moment of accomplishment in your life where a limitless future, forged by your own hand, seemed before you. Hopefully you also remembered someone who helped you make it through high school: a parent, a teacher, or a friend. It’s a moment of joy and a moment of gratitude. John’s vision and ours should be exactly that: not just joy at having finished something and having a bright future ahead of us, but gratitude toward those who make it possible, because we never get there alone.

We haven’t “graduated” life yet, but a bright future lies in store for us if we work hard for it and let Our Lord help us achieve it.

Readings: Revelation 4:1–11; Psalm 150:1b–6; Luke 19:11–28. See also 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, Year II and 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday.

The Stories Behind Graduation Traditions | Mental Floss