20th November 2016 - NCW Breavement Group and Michael Downes - Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

On this weeks programme John and Shane have an interview with the Newcastle West Bereavement group. We also have a short interview with Michael Downes from the Charismatic Renewal joins John this week and talks through how he was inspired to write the songs on his CD - Precious in my Eyes. We have our regular reflection on this weeks gospel as well as other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Newcastle West Parish Bereavement Group

The month of November can be a difficult month for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. On this weeks programme Maggie Enright and Margaret Hanna join with John to share one support available locally which is  the Newcastle West Bereavement Group - a resource which is in many parishes in west Limerick.

Precious in my Eyes - Michael Downes

John has a short interview with Michael Downes from the Charismatic Renewal who shares with John how he was inspired to write songs for his new CD - Precious in my Eyes.

You can listen to the interview with Michael excerpted from the main programme here.

Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

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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 gospel:

Words on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & end

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 2, 34th week in ordinary time

Saints of the week

November 21st - Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
November 22nd - St Cecilia also Martyrs of England, Scotland & Wales
November 23rd - St Columbanus
November 24th - Martyrs of Vietnam 
November 25th - St Colman of Cloyne also St Catherine of Alexandria
November 26th - Blessed James Albrione