Sunday – November 23, 2025

 

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
(II Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43)

This year marks the centennial celebration of Christ the King as a universal solemnity. Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925 for two reasons: to give thanks for the end of the First World War and to acknowledge the fall of four European monarchies. The celebration teaches us that kings and all rulers have legitimacy only insofar as their governance conforms to the Kingdom of Christ. We recall here the words of Saint Thomas More, English chancellor and martyr, who declared before his execution: “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

To appreciate the solemnity of Christ the King, we should turn to the opening chapters of Genesis. God reigned over all creation, which He Himself had made. Yet when He created human beings, He entrusted to them dominion over the earth and the sea. He told them: “… fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Man and woman lived in peace with God for a time but soon fell under sin’s influence. Attempting to make themselves equal to God, the woman first and then the man ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. By this act of defiance they effectively handed over sovereignty of the world to the devil or, better, sin. From that moment, it became God’s plan to reclaim His kingship by sending His Son. Christ would conquer evil to restore peace between God and humanity. His victory would reestablish the proper order: Jesus would reign as sovereign, and human beings would again exercise authority over the earth. The story of Christ the King is the story of our salvation.

Let us look at today’s readings to understand more clearly how Christ is King. The first reading describes the ceremony by which David was anointed king over all Israel. He had already been anointed king of Judah, his own tribe, and now he is recognized by the northern tribes as well. In time he will be regarded as the greatest king in Israel’s history. He conquered a vast territory stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates, and he enjoyed a strong relationship with the Lord. Yet David was not the ideal king. He fell gravely into sin by having an intimate relationship with another man’s wife and arranging for that man’s death when the adultery resulted in pregnancy. He also conducted a census of his kingdom in defiance of the Lord, and his many wars ended in the deaths of countless men. Great as he was, David could not lead humanity to live fully according to God’s will.

But David’s descendant—Jesus of Nazareth—perfected the kingship of his ancestor. Born of his lineage, Jesus was anointed, in his own words, “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” He accomplished these goals without shedding the blood of others. His way was to preach, to heal, and to die on the cross as an innocent sacrifice. In today’s Gospel Jesus is proclaimed king -- ironically by the inscription on the cross and by the words of the authorities, the soldiers, and the unrepentant thief. Yet He is also recognized as King by the “good thief,” who says, “Lord, when You come into Your kingdom, remember me.”

The second reading, from the Letter to the Colossians, presents Christ’s achievement and his place in the order of the universe. Through the shedding of His blood on the cross, Christ has redeemed humanity from the darkness of sin. Now we live in the light of Christ and know peace with God the Father. Moreover, Christ’s sacrifice subdued evil and reconciled all things to God. For this reason, the Father bestowed upon him the fullness of divinity, including the title “King of the Universe.” As members of his Body, we once again participate in the stewardship of the earth.

We have reached the end of the liturgical year. By proclaiming Jesus Christ as King of the Universe, we are reminded of the end of time. We hold the confidence that, if we remain faithful to Him, the darkness of sin will not overpower us again. On the contrary, united with Christ, we shall reign with him forever.

Thursday, June 22, 2023

 (Optional) Memorial of Saint John Fisher, bishop and martyr, and Saint Thomas More, martyr

(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6:7-12)

In today’s gospel Jesus instructs his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom comes.  St. Thomas More gave his life as a witness to that kingdom.  The story of his martyrdom is well-known because of the powerful movie made in the 1960s.  Yet it is worth retelling because of the need for testifying to faith today.

More was chancellor of England, the highest-ranking minister in the state.  He was well-loved by King Henry VIII until he refused to sign a document legitimating the king’s second marriage in defiance of the Catholic Church.  Imprisoned, More refused to comment on the king’s assuming leadership of the Church in England.  For saying nothing, he was doomed to execution!  On the way to the scaffold he clarified his position saying, “I am the king’s good servant but God’s first.”

Recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave an award to a drag queen group that mocks the Church.  Proponents of distorted sex now openly heap disdain on the Catholic Church.  They cannot tolerate the Church’s consistent teaching that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage.  One major league ballplayer criticized the award.  For the sake of a sound society, good people like this ballplayer must give witness to the legitimacy of the Church’s teaching.

 

Monday, June 22, 2020

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(II Kings 17:5-8.13-15a.18; Matthew 7:1-5)

This week the first reading of the daily mass narrates the fall of Israel.  Today, it recounts the fall of the northern kingdom, called Israel or Samaria, to the Assyrian army.  Toward the end of the week it will tell of a similar fate for the southern kingdom of Judah.  In both cases the Scriptures fault Israel’s own infidelity to God as the reason for its downfall.

It is not that Israel and Judah necessarily became weak with overindulgence that caused their downfall.  Nor is it the case that they fell because their enemies were stronger than they.  No, their undoing was that God “put them out of his sight.”  Because of their infidelity, God did not care for them as he did for their ancestors emerging from Egypt. 

It is sometimes said that the Church more than any nation on earth will continue to exist.  This is true because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Still the Church cannot take the Spirit’s presence for granted.  We must pray for its guidance and follow its promptings if we are to live in its glory.

Memorial of Saint John Fisher, bishop and martyr, and Saint Thomas More, martyr

(I Peter 4:12-19; Matthew 10:34-39)

Today’s gospel reminds us of the necessity to love Jesus more than family.  It spurs us to follow his directives rather than our parents’ when the two sets diverge.  The gospel implies as well that we are to love Jesus more than our country.  It may hurt to think of having to choose between God and country, but at times in our lives there may be reason to do so.  Thomas More was forced to choose God as He is interpreted in the Church over his king.  His stand costed him his life.

We wonder if there are laws that we should not obey for love of God.  In some areas doctors are being subject to legal censure if they do not participate in physician-assisted suicide.  Some may have to resign from their practice rather than submit to a law demanding that they do so.  For a long time legislators similarly have faced a moral dilemma akin to disobeying an unjust law.  They have had to choose between voting in favor of abortion-friendly bills and losing popular support. 

One element of Thomas More’s story should give us consolation.  He did not seek martyrdom.  He refused to say anything about the defining question of his day – the Act of Supremacy declaring the English monarch as head of the Church in England.  For people of lesser stature and perhaps with a more tolerant king, his life would have been spared.  In any case, we pray in the Our Father, “deliver us from evil” that we will be spared such ruinous choices.  But let us also pray that when we cannot avoid making a costly decision, we will like Tomas More do so in favor of the Lord.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, martyrs

(II Corinthians 11:1-11; Matthew 6: 7-15)

As the Fourth of July approaches, Americans think about patriotism.  What might they do for their country?  They may want to display a flag or to explode firecrackers.  But these acts are superficial.  Love of one’s country entails sacrifices for the good for which the country stands.  We have examples of this deep kind of patriotism in today’s saints.

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More lived in Tudor England.  John was a churchman and Thomas, a lawyer.  They were loyal subjects of Henry VIII until the king placed himself above justice.  They then ceased to serve although they did not protest publicly.  Still Henry demanded their allegiance and eventually beheaded them for not giving it.  Among Thomas’ last words was the proclamation of patriotism's right order: “I am the King’s good servant, but the Lord’s first.”

Americans will soon have to struggle with the questions of illegal immigration.  Millions of immigrants have either entered the United States illegally or stayed, again illegally, beyond the time permitted by their visas.  Most of these people have established a home in the country.  They have worked, gave birth to children, and built strong social ties.  Patriotism calls citizens to discern a just way of resolving their status.  It seems cruel to send the undocumented packing.  Yet law-breaking should not be ignored.  Somehow the undocumented must be penalized without jeopardizing their future.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Nahum 2:1.3.3:1-3.6-7; Matthew 16:24-28)

There is a powerful scene in A Man for All Seasons where St. Thomas More cites today’s gospel. More has been accused of treason and is given his day in court.  A former assistant, Richard Rich, is called as a witness of the state to testify against him.  Rich is introduced as the solicitor of Wales, a position he gained by conspiring with the authorities.  Rich perjures himself saying that More did indeed express denial of the king’s supremacy over the Church of England.  As Rich leaves the scene, More says to him: “The Lord asks what profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his life? But you have done so for Wales, Richard?”

Even though Thomas More evidently did not consider Wales much of a prize, many people seem willing to forfeit eternal life for less.  It is not for us to judge who will be saved and who will be damned, but certainly people perform actions they know are seriously wrong.  Murder, adultery, and abortion are three which quickly come to mind, but there are others which would be in most cases difficult to excuse.  These crimes are perpetrated sometimes for relatively shallow reasons like momentary pleasure or avoidance of shame.

No life is easy.  All have their share of disappointment and misery.  Yet all carry the prospect of happiness.  We bear our particular cross, as Jesus admonishes today, without great complaint so that we might follow him to glory.  It is also likely that we will find our forbearance bringing a measure of happiness among the people with whom we associate.

Monday, June 22, 2015

(Optional) Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, martyrs

(Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 7:1-5)

The English sixteenth century martyrs, John Fisher and Thomas More, were noted public figures and brilliant scholars.  The first was the theologian-bishop of Rochester, England, and the second, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor.  Both achieved some measure of greatness in these roles, but they are remembered today for reaching beyond their natural abilities.  They became saints when they sacrificed their lives along with the worldly rewards of their natural ability for the love of Christ their savior.  Looking carefully, we may find similar divine activity in the story of Abraham which begins in today’s first reading.

The Lord tells Abraham that he will be the source of a great nation.  God does not mean simply that Abraham’s descendants will be numerous.  Rather He intends that they will be praised and emulated by all who seek true wisdom.  The development will not come about naturally.  No, God will instruct Abraham and his descendants with difficult lessons of self-control, care for one’s family, justice toward neighbors, and love for God.  The end of the instruction will be the nation which gives birth to Jesus Christ, God’s own son.

We should aspire to a similar greatness.  This does not mean that we want to be the envy of the world.  Rather we want to develop the virtues exhibited in the gospels by Jesus.  The task will move us beyond our natural abilities but certainly not beyond God’s.  Taking instruction from Him, we will become truly caring people, His daughters and sons.

Homilette for Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(Hebrews 2:5-12; Mark 1:21-28)

Once in a while we see criticism of humanism from Christian groups. According to them humanism is the archenemy of faith because it seeks to replace the primacy of God with that of humans. But certainly this criticism is both wrong-headed and short-sighted. There are great saints like Thomas More who were humanists. Even Pope John Paul II was considered a Christian humanist. Calling humanism anti-Christian is like calling an athlete anti-intellectual. Such a label does not account for humanism’s possibilities.

Humanism endeavors to promote all men and women, not just the rich or the educated, but the poor and simple as well. It says that the value of the individual human must not be ignored. It is true that some humanists get carried away with these ideas. Secular humanists try to exalt humanity by denying the existence of God. Indeed, they attempt to turn humans into gods with the authority to make laws that are contrary to nature.

In the gospel Jesus shows himself to be a humanist. When a man who is possessed by an unclean spirit comes before him on the sabbath, he takes pity. Right away, he casts out the demon so the man may have his life back. The Pharisees consider the sabbath so holy that all regular activity must stop to give praise to God. But Jesus’ expelling the demon on the sabbath indicates that God is honored more by restoring humans to their full senses than by compliance with a narrow interpretation of the Law.

Homilette for January 15, 2008

You will find below homilettes for all weekdays since January 7. If you have a comment or suggestion about these works, please write me at cmeleop@yahoo.com. Many New Year blessings, cm

Tuesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

(Mark 1:21-28)

Every once in a while we see criticism of humanism from Christian groups. According to these people humanism is the archenemy of faith because it seeks to replace the primacy of God with that of humans. But certainly this criticism is short-sighted. There are great saints like Thomas More who were humanists. Even Pope John Paul II was considered a Christian humanist. Condemning humanism as anti-Christian would be like condemning radio with the same label. Just as there are quality radio programs – some that even promoting the gospel – so also are most forms of humanism beneficial.

Humanism endeavors to promote all men and women, not just the rich or the educated, but poor and simple people as well. It says that the value of any individual human should not be ignored. It is true that some humanists get carried away with these ideas. Secular humanists, for example, would say that God does not exist. Indeed, they make humans gods of themselves with the authority to make all laws as they see fit. But this is an aberration.

In the gospel Jesus shows how God Himself may be called a humanist. When a man who is possessed by a devil comes before him, he takes pity. Right away, he casts out the devil so the man may have his life back. The fact that he does this on the Sabbath doubly indicates God’s love for every human being. The Pharisees consider Saturday so holy that all regular activity must stop to give praise to God. For a healer, as Jesus certainly is, this would mean to stop healing. Jesus’ driving away the demon from the possessed man on the Sabbath indicates that God is honored more by restoring humans to their full senses than by compliance with a narrow interpretation of the Law.