November 25 - Feast of Christ the King: His kingdom come!

 

 

First Reading  Daniel 7:13-14
Daniel prophesies about the coming of the Son of Man.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 93:1,1-2,5
A prayer of praise to God our king

Second Reading  Revelation 1:5-8
Jesus is the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of all.

Gospel Reading
John 18:33b-37

This Sunday, at the end of Church’s liturgical year, the readings describe the enthronement of the victorious Christ as King in Heaven in all his glory. Instituting this Feast of Christ the King, Pope Pius XI proclaimed: “Pax Christi in regno Christi” (the peace of Christ in the reign of Christ). This means that we live in the peace of Christ when we surrender our lives to him every day, accept him as our God, Savior and King and allow him to rule our lives. In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks of kings and kingship, yet he is not referring to power but to truth. Pilate fails to understand: can there be a power not obtained by human means? A power which does not respond to the logic of domination and force? Jesus came to reveal and bring a new kingship, that of God; he came to bear witness to the truth of a God who is love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8,16), who wants to establish a kingdom of justice, love and peace (cf. Preface). Whoever is open to love hears this testimony and accepts it with faith, to enter the kingdom of God.