Daniel 7:13-14 / Revelation 1:5-8 / John 18:33b-37

Brothers and sisters, today we begin the last week of the Liturgical Year, with the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. God willing, next Sunday we will begin a new Liturgical Year, with the Time of Advent, preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ and for Christmas, on December 25th.

In today's Gospel, according to John, Jesus admits His identity as King before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, shortly before suffering the passion and being crucified.

Indeed, on the cross of Christ, Pilate placed the sign that said "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

Jesus tell Pilate that He was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. He said that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to His voice. In other words, everyone who sincerely seeks the truth and reaches it will certainly come to Christ.

The prophets of the First Testament foretold that a man would come on the clouds of heaven and be presented before God. He would receive dominion, glory, and kingship. He would be served by all peoples, nations, and languages. And His kingdom would not be destroyed.

The prophet Daniel said this in today’s first reading. And we Christians interpret this prophecy in reference to Jesus Christ, the King of kings.

John, in the book of Revelation, today’s second reading, follows the same logic, saying openly that the resurrected Jesus comes amid the clouds and is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He has made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.

Indeed, through the sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Spirit has made us priests and kings, so that we may share in the priesthood and kingship of Christ, sanctifying and reigning with Him.

Jesus loves us, and to Him must be given glory and power, forever and ever. The Lord God says that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come, the almighty.

On the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, let us rejoice for having a just sovereign who has shown us all His love and mercy, who is capable of saving us and who invites us to reign with Him.

Let us ask God for the grace to respond to so much love and trust!

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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