When we hear the word «king» perhaps we think of the splendor of Versailles of Louis XIV of France, or the Russian court of Catherine the Great, or even the modern British court. The thought of these monarchs invokes scenes of lavish banquets, with plates of gold and silver flasks. We also think of absolute despotism. This is certainly not the type of king presented in today’s readings. In today’s Gospel, the scene is Calvary. Jesus is abandoned by his people. Only Mary, John and Mary Magdalene and perhaps a few others are there. The rest of the Twelve, the huge crowds that had pressed so hard on the Lord forcing Him to do things like preach from a boat off the shore, the crowds are gone. Where were all these people? Surely they heard of His arrest. Where were they all? Had they decided that Jesus could not lead them? Yet, it is on the cross that Jesus is proclaimed to be a King. And this was really not by the sarcastic sign over his head, “This is the King of the Jews.” On the cross, Jesus was proclaimed to be a King by one of the criminals who was dying with him. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Why would this man call Jesus a King? What did he realize that so many others had blocked out of their lives? The thief had to realize that Jesus possessed the Power of the Spiritual, the Power of God. Jesus demonstrated this power when he turned to the repentant criminal and said, «This day you will be with me in Paradise.» He is our King. His Kingdom is, as today’s Preface, the prayer we say immediately before we sing the Holy Holy, tells us, is a Kingdom of truth and life, a Kingdom of holiness and grace, a Kingdom of justice, love and peace. We have given the keys of our lives to our King. We have now been called to imitate him at his most regal moment: reigning on the Cross sacrificing himself for others, reconciling, forgiving. We are called to realize with our lives the Kingdom of truth and life, holiness, grace, justice, love and peace. We ask Christ today to help us to sacrifice as he sacrificed. Sacrifice is noble. It is also no fun. All of us literally run out of gas, giving to those who are continually demanding. But there was no limit to Christ’s sacrifice. There is no limit to the extent He wants us to follow Him. Perhaps the greatest sacrifice we are called to make is the sacrifice of forgiving those who have hurt us. On the cross Jesus forgave those who conspired against Him to kill Him. He forgave the soldiers who brutalized Him. He forgave His disciples who deserted Him. He forgave us. He saw our sins, your sins and mine, and embraced the cross to restore grace, not just for the world in general, but for you and me. It is harder to say «You are forgiven» than it is to say, «I am sorry.» But that is the way of the King on the cross. Forgiveness is the way of the Kingdom. The Church year is over. Like the conclusion of a good book, the final chapter sums up the essence of the book. The Solemnity of Christ the King sums up the Church year by proclaiming: Jesus is the central mystery of our faith. He lived, He died, He rose, and He will come again. He allowed us to be called Christians. May we have the courage to be faithful members of His Kingdom • AE
Fr. Agustin’s Schedule for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (2022)
St Dominic Catholic Church
Saturday November 19, 2022
12. 00 p.m. Sacrament of Matrimony for Andrew and Gardenia.
3.30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessional)
5.00 p.m. (English Mass @ Main Church)
Sunday November 20, 2022
7.30 a.m. Holy Mass (English Mass @ Main Church)
10.00 a.m. Holy Mass (English Mass @ Main Church)
Solemnidad de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Rey del Universo (2022)
El día en que celebramos a Jesus como Rey del universo la liturgia de la Iglesia nos presenta uno de los pasajes en los que se narra su muerte en la cruz. ¿Por qué? Quizá porque quiere hacernos reflexionar que Jesus es un rey que establece su reino de justicia y paz desde su propio sufrimiento y su propia sangre, y que quiso salvar a la humanidad a través de su propio dolor y no a través del dolor de los demás. Asi ¿podría este Jesús crucificado decirnos algo válido, vivo, concreto a los hombres y mujeres de hoy? ¿Es el mensaje de la cruz, digamos, salvador y redentor? ¿Qué sentido puede tener mirar con cuidado la cruz con el crucificado en medio de un mundo que busca apasionadamente el confort, la comodidad, el máximo bienestar? ¿Hemos de seguir alimentando un cristianismo obsesionado por la agonía de Getsemaní, los estertores del Gólgota y las llagas del Crucificado? Sin embargo, cuando los cristianos adoran la cruz, no ensalzan el sufrimiento, la inmolación y la muerte, sino el amor, la cercanía y la solidaridad de Dios que ha querido compartir nuestra vida y nuestra muerte hasta el fondo. No es el sufrimiento el que salva, sino el amor de Dios que se solidariza con la historia dolorosa de los hombres. No es la sangre la que, en realidad, purifica sino el amor infinito de Dios que nos acoge como hijos. Por esto, ser fiel al Crucificado no es buscar con masoquismo el sufrimiento, sino saber acercarse a los que sufren solidarizándose con ellos hasta las últimas consecuencias. Descubrir la grandeza de la cruz no es encontrar no sé qué misterioso poder o virtud en el dolor, sino saber percibir la fuerza liberadora que se encierra en el amor cuando es vivido en toda su profundidad. Quizás hemos de recordarlo hoy más que nunca. Desgraciadamente, no es la sangre tan fácilmente vertida entre nosotros, la que nos conducirá automáticamente hacia una sociedad mejor, sino el esfuerzo paciente de los que día a día luchan por una convivencia más fraterna y solidaria. Una esperanza debe, sin embargo, alentar nuestros corazones. A una vida crucificada, vivida con ei mismo espíritu de amor, fraternidad y solidaridad con que vivió Jesús, sólo le espera resurrección. Quizás las cruces que nuestros antepasados levantaron sobre nuestras montañas, apuntando hacia los cielos, nos lo puedan recordar en este domingo en el que miramos a Cristo, y éste crucificado • AE
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 