Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • November 22, 2024 5 MORE THAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS We are Professional Remembrance Planners Explore the many unique ways to honor and celebrate lives. Call or visit Bradford O’Keefe today. BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES Professional. Compassionate. Dignified. 228-374-5650 • Bradfordokeefe.com In thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit, Blessed Mother, and St. Jude, for prayers answered. BAB Opening Remarks: Recently, I saw a sign that read, “Due to the current political, social, financial, and spiritual crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel has gone out.” For those whose citizenship is tied to earth rather than heaven, who focus on present conditions only and give little or no allegiance to the conquering Christ -- darkness could undoubtedly be life’s reality. But, conversely, for the faithful who believe and express that belief in worship, trust, and service, the light at the end of the tunnel burns ever brightly. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the bright and morning star, the hope of our salvation, the Alpha, and the Omega, the first and the last -- all people and things have their origin in Him and by choice are sustained continuously by Him. Ego or Humility? With today being Christ the King Sunday and the 2024 election still being the hottest topic in the news, we focus on leadership. Daniel (chapter 7) has a vision of four beasts representing the rulers of the four major kingdoms of the world in his day. They are hostile to God, ruthless to the people they rule, and will be destroyed. In today’s first reading Daniel describes the son of man (Jesus) who receives dominion, glory, and kingship whose kingdom will never be destroyed. Jesus’ deepest desire is that we know Him, love Him, and serve Him. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Each person finds their good by adherence to God’s plan for them. In God’s plan, we find the truth, and in adherence to this truth, we become free. Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is considered fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting yourself be tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of opinion or doctrine, seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose goal consists solely of our own ego and desires.” God Triumphs: To get a greater understanding of our second reading (Revelation 1:5-8) start at verse 4 which introduces the letter to the seven churches. Since seven is the biblical number suggesting fullness and completeness, the letter is written to the entire church suffering intense persecution at the hands of the Roman Emperor Domitian. John tells his readers not to despair. Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, is “the one who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty.” His love freed us from sin and death and gave us a share in His kingship and priesthood. “…The baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, that through the works of men and women, they may offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the perfection of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:4- 10)” (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium , 10). Both Daniel and John the Revelator strengthen their persecuted contemporaries (and us) with the assurance that evil would not triumph over good, nor would God ever abandon those who remain faithful. Encourage someone with these words! King of the Jews? Today’s Gospel opens with a bit of a dichotomy. When Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” he is asking Jesus about His political stance. When Jesus speaks about His kingdom, He is referring to His Messianic Kingship. Jesus tries to get the point across by saying, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” But Pilate still doesn’t get it because he retorts. “Then, you are a king.” Unless someone has the attitude of worship, they do not do well with confronting the divine. That is why those who hate or reject God and all He and His Church stand for are very difficult to attempt to reason with. It is prevalent, even today, that those who declare to have little or no faith, view Jesus, at best, as a historical figure with leadership capabilities, words of wisdom, and exceptional human attributes but will not acknowledge Him as God (second person of the Trinity), Lord and King. As the Gospel text continues, we see that Pilate has a very real dilemma. He wants nothing to do with interrogating Jesus, but fear of the emperor, pressure from the crowd, a weak spine, and allegiance only to worldly seductions, structures, and powers caused him to commit the worst crime in history, sentencing Jesus to death by crucifixion. Closing Comments and Questions: Sometimes, we face fears and pressures when dealing with our sinfulness, choices to please God, or temptation to yield to demands of the flesh. Jesus said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice (John 18:37). We know that Pilate rejected this ‘truth’ of Jesus’ Lordship, but how do you and I view it? In John’s Gospel, truth is not simply the conformity of our intellect with what is objectively real. It entails our full acceptance, not just of the mind but of the heart and the will. Jesus says, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To what voices are you listening? Are your priorities in life wealth, power, pleasure, or honor, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, the four typical substitutes for God? Do your words and deeds reflect allegiance to Jesus’ rule?” In what ways do you persistently strive to make the “truth” of Jesus’ Lordship your own? Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homilypearls.com. 1st Reading: Daniel 7:13-14 Psalm: 93:1, 1-2, 5 2nd Reading: Revelation 1:5-8 Gospel: John 18:33b-37 Our Lord Jesus Christ the King Choose your leader Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries