by Sister Jane Riha
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and on Thursday we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Our American society stresses a democratic system of government. The concept of having a king is foreign to us. The Feast of Christ the King was instituted in 1925 at a time of great social and political unrest. The Church wanted to make a strong point with this feast that Jesus, the King, is one of us and identifies with our human condition.
The Gospel for today emphasizes the values of Jesus, the King. Jesus is the Suffering Servant who is willing to lay down his life for his people. He stands before Pilate, a powerful man of his time, and humbly answers his questions. He speaks the truth and is true to Himself.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, many of us are deeply grateful for the abundance in our life. On Thanksgiving Day, family and friends gather to celebrate that abundance and to thank God. The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving". What better way to begin our day of celebrating than to go to Mass to thank God for His wonderful gifts.
As followers of Jesus, we become more sensitive to those who do not have an abundance. There are many in our own neighborhoods. Each of us is moved in different ways by those who live on the margins of society. Jesus, our King, is a kindly shepherd who invites us to reach out to those persons who experience such suffering.
May God bless your families in a special way at this time of year! Let us pray for one another and for those who are in special need of our prayer and support.
Beautiful reminder of all we have to be thankful for and more importantly how we need to keep the needs of others the intention during this glorious season.
Thank you, Sister Jane, for the thoughtful connecting of the two feast. May Jesus our King reign in our lives.
Jesus is definitely King of our lives, and we'll be giving abundant thanksgiving to him--or I should say, will continue to. My husband George had a heart attack this past week, was rushed to the hospital, had stents put in to correct serious blockages, and is home safe and sound and feeling GREAT! Jesus was with all the way--and being at that beautifully Catholic hospital, St. Vincent, was an extra blessing.
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (JN. 18:37)
If we keep "listening," eventually we will "hear ...."
Thanks, Jane for an inspiring reflection