Thirty Fourth Sunday :B:Feast of Christ the King

CHRIST THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE

First Reading: Dan.7: 13-14
Second Reading: Apoc. 1:5-8
Gospel Reading: Jn. 18: 33-37

   * First Reading is from the book of Prophet Daniel . It gives us a description of the vision Daniel had. In this vision Daniel saw Christ being presented to the heavenly Father and he was given dominion and glory and Kingship. All people, nation were under his everlasting power.

   * Second Reading is from the book of Apocalypse. It speaks of the faithfulness of Christ who is the ruler of the whole earth and all kingdoms. By His shedding of blood , Christ has freed us from sin and made us part of His kingdom. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega - beginning and the end of everything.

Gospel reading is from St. John. It gives an account of Jesus being asked by Pilate about his kingdom. Jesus' answer was that, His Kingdom is not of this world. But he says, "I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Hence the hall mark of Jesus' Kingship is truth. Pope Benedict XVI says, "Jesus' whole existence reveals that God is love. This is therefore, the truth of which he gave full testimony with the sacrifice of his own life on Calvary. The Cross is the 'throne' from which he manifested the sublime royalty of God-Love"
Jesus' kingship did not end with his death on the cross; on the contrary his kingdom was in fact established by his death on the cross. His kingdom continues for ever in eternal glory and splendor as he testified that his kingdom did not belong to this world.
May we have the courage and the perseverance to remain true to our King and give witness to His rule by belonging to the side of truth and constantly listening to the voice of  Christ the universal King.
Beneath the picture of Christ, runs the following message:
"Jesus also known as Christ wanted on charges of sedition, criminal anarchy, vagrancy, and conspiring to overthrow the established government. Dresses poorly. Uses carpentry as a cover. Has visionary ideas. Associates with common working people; unemployed, and winos. Has variety of aliases: Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Light of the World, etc. Full beard and scars on hands and feet the results of injuries inflicted by angry mob led by respectable citizens and local authorities" - James Gilhooley.

Thirtyfirst Sunday of the Year:B

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

First Reading: Deu. 6:2-6
Second Reading: Heb. 7: 23-28
Gospel Reading: Mk. 12:28-34

   * First Reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses asks the people of Israel to Love the Lord their God and to obey His commandments. He tells them that God wants a wholehearted obedience of His commandments and not mere lips service. If they do so, God will bless them abundantly and will give them a land flowing with milk and honey.

   * Second Reading is from the letter to Hebrews. It explains that Jesus is the perfect High priest holy and blameless , who offered himself once and for all for sinners and continues to intercede for them. It was not necessary for him to offer sacrifices daily like other high priests who are appointed by law and are weak in nature.

"Love of God and Love of Neighbour"
In the Gospel today, a very important question is put to Jesus by a scribe. 'Which is the greatest commandment?' The answer to this question could be hundreds of answers. In his answer, Jesus gave not one commandment but two. First he said, "Love your God with all your heart , with all your mind and with all your soul" which is a quote from the book of Deuteronomy. Then Jesus added a verse from the book of Leviticus, "and you shall love your neighbour as yourself".
Jesus' simple statements embraced everything we need to do to serve God. Every action of our lives are included in these two laws and demand a radical change in our lives. When we love other people, we are loving people in the image and likeness of God. We cannot love God and hate others.
First of all, the love of God demands a wholehearted commitment from us. It does not begin and end with Sunday Services; but rather, God is the centre and source of our very being.
Secondly, love of neighbour means, good will, boundless and extended to those who may have no personal likeness for us and may not belong to our family, clan or nationality. The perfect example of the love of neighbour is narrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Hence for Jesus, love of neighbour has no boundaries or barriers.
In other words, love of God and love of neighbour are two sides of the same coin. Love of God cannot exist without love of neighbour and vice versa.
God has bestowed on us with the great power to love: where mere matter, our mind, our intellect, our will and our whole self is spontenously converted to the Love of God and Love of neighbour. Jesus is asking us to follow this instinct of love.
"How can I love God and not care for His image" - Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brothers you do to me" Mt. 25:40