November 23.  Christ the King. Year C.   On this last Sunday of the year Fr Pius took some extra time to address everyone present. “I have been with you throughout this year and heard many of your confessions and stories. All of us have probably had suffering of some kind during the course of this year. Maybe some have lost a friend, a special possession, a pet, or more seriously a family member through sickness and death, cancer or maybe even suicide, others through an accident, or divorce.  Some of us have lost jobs, friends, maybe a home.  How did we deal with the loss? Did we grieve? Were we able to look at the suffering face of Jesus and take our pain to the Father in prayer, asking for his merciful love and healing? It may have happened or not. It may take more time. If there was guilt on our part we may have a need to ask for forgiveness from God or one another.  Such is the experience and practice of mercy, which is so strongly related to faith, hope and love.  It is my hope and prayer that our understanding of mercy as a special expression of God’s love will grow stronger in the years ahead.  May our sensitivity allow us to grow in awareness of the suffering of all of God’s creation for which we humans are responsible. And yet, don’t forget to celebrate with joy that Jesus, as universal king will triumph and reign forever.”

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Scripture: The rulers scoffed at Jesus, saying, “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God.” Luke 23: 35-43  Pope Francis:   The New Testament does not only tell us of the earthly Jesus and his tangible and loving relationship with the world. It also shows him risen and glorious, present throughout creation by his universal lordship. We direct our gaze to the end of time when the Son will deliver all things to the Father and God may be everything to everyone.  The very flowers of the field and birds which his human eyes contemplated and admired are now imbued with his radiant presence. LS 100.   Jubilee.  “I believe in life everlasting”. [12] So our faith professes. Christian hope finds in these words an essential foundation. For hope is “that theological virtue by which we desire… eternal life as our happiness”. [13] The Second Vatican Council says of hope that, “when people are deprived of this divine support, and lack hope in eternal life, their dignity is deeply impaired, as may so often be seen today. The problems of life and death, of guilt and suffering, remain unsolved, so that people are frequently thrown into despair”. SNC19    Act and Pray for compassionate concern for those suffering loss and for hope for life everlasting.