The Solemnity of Christ the King

The first reading from Ezekiel talks about God as the shepherd of Israel. “As a shepherd I am going to look after my flock myself… I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice (Ez 34:16).

That’s why God raised up prophets, like Ezekiel, to warn the kings. When they failed to listen, God decided to get rid of the bad leadership, royalty and nobility by sending them to exile. 

Who is the next? Finally, God has promised to rule His people Himself. We see that this promise is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ whose kingship we celebrate today. Jesus who is our Good Shepherd lays down His life for His people.” He looks after us even today with tender love and care. There are 6 specific actions mentioned in the Gospel (i) feeding the hungry, (ii) giving drink to the thirsty, (iii) clothing the naked, (iv) sheltering the homeless, (v) visiting those in prison, and (vi) taking care of the sick. And these are the works of mercy. 

Today, it is still to some extent these works of mercy, “Out of sight, out of mind”.

Well done, my good and faithful servant!

We all have so many fine qualities given freely to us by God. They are like the talents handed by the master to his servants before he left on his trip as in the parable today (MT 25:14-30). God expects us to develop the talents and gifts. He expects us to put them maximum use for God and for the entire humanity.

The art of loving and developing of any talent requires discipline, concentration, patience and supreme concern for the mastery of the particular talent. Growing and progressing with our talents are never easy. We make progress and then fall back. But we should never give up because the end is so very worthwhile. Tensions come from dull and monotonous routine of looking after family and earning our daily living may not bring much personal fulfillment and satisfaction. When we do with enthusiasm and willing heart and God will make a way for you. In this way we can offer back to God the Father the life given to us more fulfilled and more enriched.

We should not compare our gifts with others jealously and resentfully. Each of us receives God’s gifts in different measures. Each of us born into a different family and different situation and background. But God gave sufficient to all according to our ability. The way to preserve the faith, or any our talent that God has given us, is to put it to work and make it bear fruit.

You are God's Building!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of St John Lateran, the Pope’s own Cathedral, the Mother Church of all Christian churches. Jesus Christ came to form a people, a community of persons, in communion with him and among themselves. The churches, the temples, have always been important in our faith.  In the Gospel Jesus Himself shows us the respect and the prayerful attitude that we should show when we are in Church, (Jn2:13-22).

“You are God’s building,” (1 Cor 3:17). St. Paul explains that Jesus is the foundation of God’s building (the New Temple promised in the Gospel) and that the Spirit of God dwells in us making us “the Temple of God.” God dwells on earth in His city, the Church. A new Temple where all mankind can worship in spirit and truth, where the Holy Spirit bears fruit and healing, where God dwells on earth – these are all now realised in Jesus and all who live in Him through the living waters of baptism, the Church.

Read how the Catechism of the Catholic Church helps us understand today’s Feast. We are taking the time to remember the very first basilica dedicated in Rome (not in Jerusalem of the Jews but in Rome, the center of civilization at that time), now under the care of the Pope, successor to Peter whom Christ Himself appointed to care for His Church until He returns for us:

 “In its earthly state the Church needs places where the community can gather together. Our visible churches, holy places, are images of the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem, toward which we are making our way on pilgrimage. It is in these churches that the Church celebrates public worship to the glory of the Holy Trinity, hears the word of God and sings his praise, lifts up her prayer, and offers the sacrifice of Christ sacramentally present in the midst of the assembly.” (CCC nos, 1198-1199).

Where is the Rest to be Found?

On the All Saints Day we have celebrated with all who have attained their eternal reward and are seated with God in heaven. They are our friends in heaven.

On the All Souls Day we commemorate the faithful departed who have not yet been admitted to the company of God, and pray that they will soon attain the joys of eternal life.

We find death such a difficult topic to talk about, to deal with, and we tend to see death as the end of life rather than a part of a journey.

We all suffer in this world more or less, either from anxiety of mind, or sorrow of heart, or pain of body. And nevertheless we all long for rest; we seek it eagerly. Where is rest to be found? Where shall we seek it?

In fact the greater number of men and women and children, seek their rest in the enjoyment of the riches, pleasures, and honors of this life. Do they really find rest in these things? No. Rest is not in these things.

The greatest challenge to a people of faith, is to really believe in life after death where we find eternal rest… to really believe that we actually go onto a better place.

"There is only way we can get ready for immortality and that is to love this life and to live it courageously and cheerfully and as faithful as we can."

On this month of November we shall remember to pray for all the departed souls, forgotten souls and all the poor souls in purgatory. Eternal rest grant unto them, Lord!

Love God, Love Neighbours

Today’s Gospel reading revolves around the question: “Which commandment of the Law is the greatest?” (MT 22: 34-40). Another way to put this question is to ask, “What do I need to do to achieve salvation?”

“Love God with your whole mind, your whole heart, and your whole soul, and love your neighbor as yourself,” is more an attitude in life than a list of things to do. “God is present when we love Him and when we love our neighbours.

People are either good or bad about questioning things. We are good if we are truly interested in discovering God’s will. We are bad if we are only interested in picking apart God’s Word. Hopefully, we all want to learn and grow and become more in tune with God in every way. Jesus boiled down God’s commandments for us in life: Love God and love people. 

If we get these right, most things will fall into place. But if we get these wrong, most other things will go wrong as well.True love of God and true love of neighbour are two sides of the same coin. We cannot separate them.

“Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).

We ask the Lord to help us to put Him first in our life. So many times we find ourselves putting other things ahead of Him. We make time for the things we want to do, but we find little time to pray. We shall find time to talk to our parishioners/friends/family members.