Gospel Reflections for Christ The King 2019
Get me the Manager!
You might hear that now as the Christmas shopping season starts. Tensions can escalate in crowded stores and sometimes impatient customers want help from the boss. I once saw a customer angrily do this, but was greatly impressed how quickly a wise store manager diffused and solved the situation. How wonderful if there were thousands of store managers like this, for your own needs, for your family in a crisis, or even our nation during a contentious political campaign.
We like to talk directly to the boss because we want results now. People like to connect right away to the person who can solve the problem …and right now!
Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It expresses the same desire of that customer, and affirms that you now know just where to go for the deepest needs of your soul.
Good leaders provide what you want, or tell you how to get it yourself. Our Lord does both. While He can instantly provide virtues like hope, courage, and compassion, He also invites you to follow His words and deeds every day, and apply them to your problems for the wisdom to solve them. We need to bring this heavenly “Manager” to every store and home and even our nation during this Christmas season!
People often realize that their life has fallen short in some way. Perhaps things have not turned out the way you would have liked because of mistakes you have made. Regret for past mistakes is one of the hardest human emotions to have. That is often a lonely place to be, and you might feel you have no one on your side. This Sunday offers new hope.
Our Lord is only interested in your present moment now, where you can make better decisions today, and in your more hope filled future …and not your past. Infinite mercy is yours simply for your promise of a changed life, and that you will no longer engage in those old mistakes or sinful behaviors. This Sunday affirms that Christ is your Lord, and has the power to make all things new. Today is the day to ask for His help.
The Feast of Christ the King reaffirms that Our Lord will always be with you in every circumstance of your life, and especially when you cry out for mercy. You can always call on this “Manager” for your deepest needs.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
What a beautiful & comforting summation of this Sunday’s gospel!!
Thank you.
You are very welcome!
You have chosen the right verses to focus on!
Dear Father,
Recently I was experiencing other people’s stresses and anxiety about their up coming Thanksgiving party. Jesus comes to my rescue in relieving them from stress and detaching myself from this nonsense:
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Amen.
I love You, Jesus!
Beautifully expressed Father Dave!!!Dick and I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our precious Jesus!! He is our life !!! Live a life of loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee with our Jesus at its center!!! To share and spread His love is the center of our Faith!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it and love you for spreading Jesus!! Love!!! Teresa , Your love was also beautifully expressed!!! Let’s overwhelm our world with living our Jesus’ LOVE!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Dear Fr Dave,
Our prayers for a new & blessed Thanksgiving to you! My we all continue striving for that peace & strength in our faith in God direction for us all!
Much love always,
Kathy
Thank you!
I think that in the governance of nations, the government works best when there is a king. That is providing that the king rules for the people rather than for himself. Other forms of government tend to get confused when elements possessing power contend against each other, and the energy is wasted on the contentions rather than on overcoming the issues of the government.
With Christ the King, the Kingdom of Heaven has the ideal government since Jesus loves His people unconditionally. And that is why we pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”
Yes, ours is a King who has our best interests at heart.
Thank you Fr. Dave, and a happy Thanksgiving!
Christ, The King of all nations can affect changes in our lives, and He is needed
now more than ever, to bring peace and unity to a divided nation.
Well said!
What is amazing that Jesus even died for those who mocked Him. I went to the last day of the 40 days of prayer and it was interesting seeing people and havin their children flipping us off. However, to know in your heart that u r doing the right thing there is much peace.
I was watching this Priest on utube talk and say if u vite for abortion do no go to communion.. Wow and my friend who has just come back to a relationship with Our Lord told a friend from another Church and that person didn`t need to
Go to confession that once a Christian you are saved. I found my friend fighting for what is right and scriptural even if she would loose a friend. My friend finds herself fighting the Catholic way and she isn`t Catholic YET..
She is now going to the healing mass and one of our bible studies on James and will be going to the Alpha program…
We must only stand up for truth and it is in the Bible. Every time I look at the crucifix I always remember “Jesus you did that for me”
You will always find the deepest insights whenever you look upon the cross with Jesus.
THANKS SO much for helping us to get ON track…. I have TOO much time now to reflect as I recover from this surgery and find I’m slipping into the past too much instead of staying in the Now and letting go of the past!! Thanks for your guidance on this Buen Camino!!
Buen Camino!
Fr. Dave,
Yes, it is that time of year when Thanksgiving is in a few days and Christmas is right around the corner. Tensions run high, tempers flare and he entire meaning of “The Birth of Jesus” has almost been completely forgotten and replaced with “What are we gonna buy for Aunt Bertha and Uncle Martin in Indiana; how much is that gonna cost? I was waiting in line longer than you. etc.etc. What happened??
During this time of year as we prepare our Christmas cards for family and friends, my dear wife loves to buy Christmas stamps for all cards and correspondence. Is Amazon.com the only place where these stamps can be purchased? Not one of our local post offices has any. One postal employee said, “No, we won’t ave any this year.” Do they have something against Jesus and His birth? Wish I knew. Perhaps after Thanksgiving, She has gone without these stamps before. I hope this will not be another of those years.
Yes, this can be a time of frustration, even with trying to find the right Christmas stamps! It is our season to learn patience.