21st November 2015 - Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

Technical issues have bedevilled West Limerick 102fm over the last number of weeks and sadly following the effects of Storm Barney during the week,WL102fm is still off air due to damage to the transmitters of the radio station and right now it is not clear when the radio station will be back on air.

This week we had planned to repeat our interview with Alice Taylor which was originally broadcast on 8th November. On that date, due to human error, the 10am broadcast didn't go out. You can listen back to Alice's wonderful interview and reflection HERE. 

Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

Book of Kells - Christ Enthroned

 

Hail Redeemer, King Divine,

Priest and Lamb the throne is thine,

King whose reign shall never cease,

Prince of ever lasting peace

Angels Saints and Nations sing

Praise be Jesus Christ our King

Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,

King of Love on Calvary.

This weeks feast celebrates the Kingship of Christ, the feast was erected at the end of the 1925 Holy Year by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Quas Primas where he sought to give due honour to the Divine Kingship of Christ.
 

Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP noted,

"The Church's year ends with the Feast of Christ the King. Jesus is portrayed as a triumphant king reigning over all creation. This is the same Jesus, son of Mary and son of God, who has preached the Good News and declared the imminence of God's kingdom. The obedient Son suffered and died for us, rose from the dead, ascended into glory and sent his Spirit so that we may have another comforter and someone to speak for us. Creation has been restored, and we have been saved from our sins and foolishness. The cycle is now complete. Although the enormousness of God's saving work has yet to impress itself on most people, nevertheless we believe that there will be a moment at the end of time when the Son will come again in all his glory, and creation will reach fulfillment. That is why we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we rejoice in what Jesus has done for us, yet at the same time we look forward to its completion........".

But for many people, the idea of Kingship of Jesus is somewhat alien. Jesus was of the royal house of David born in the royal city but he was born in a stable and laid in a manager. He was a King who entered into the Holy City - Jerusalem - through the royal gate to the acclamations of the people not in a military procession or from the back of a state coach but on the back of a humble donkey. He was enthroned not on some fancy cathedra but rather on a gibbet outside the city walls in the midst of the city dump, proclaimed mockingly as King as he died opening his arms on the cross to embrace the world and all of humanity.

He came as a Servant Leader as he explained to the disciples at the Last Supper when he washed their feet. We are all called to be servants to one another, assisting and helping in fraternal love and friendship. Where leaders lord it over us in civil or religious spheres truly then we have lost our allegiance to the true king.

He redefined what it means to be a leader amongst those that dare to call themselves his followers reminding us that the first will be last and the last first.

In our lives today, do we make the effort to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned? Be it those who are in physical need but what about those hungry for a consoling word of recognition of their humanity and dignity as people; those whose very souls and minds are ripped naked and torn from the insults and humiliation they experience, the sick of mind and spirit, those imprisoned in the expectations of society as well as those incarcerated by mental illness and stigma? Have we not only assisted them, have we gone past our comfort zone to really be present to those in need, really aware of them as the face of Christ for us in this world?

 

 

 



 

 

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Reflections on this weeks feast and gospel reading

• Sunday Reflections - Reflection on the readings
• Word on Fire - What Does it Mean to Say that Christ is King?
• Centre for Liturgy
• English Dominicans - A Popes Hope
• Salt + Light - The King who did not bow down
• Vatican Radio - Solemnity of Christ the King
• Blue Eyed Ennis reflections here and here

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours: psalter week 2; 34th week in ordinary time

November 23rd - St Columbanus (abbot and missionary)
November 24th - St Andrew Dung Lac and Companions (martyrs)
November 25th - St Colman of Cloyne ; also St Catherine of Alexandria
November 26th - Blessed James Alberione
November 27th - St Fergal
November 28th - Saint Catherine Laboure