Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Luke 23:35-43
Today, we come to the end of the liturgical year. The Gospel brings us to Calvary — to a scene that may seem like defeat, but in truth, it is the moment of Christ’s greatest victory. The throne is a cross. The crown is made of thorns. The royal robe is a cloak of mockery. Yet, it is here that we see what true kingship looks like.
The people stand watching. The rulers sneer, the soldiers mock, and above the head of Jesus hangs a sign: “This is the King of the Jews.” They mean it as an insult, but it reveals the deepest truth. This is indeed the King — not the kind the world expects, but the King who reigns by loving, by forgiving, by giving his life completely.
From the beginning of his mission, Jesus was tempted to be a different kind of king — one who would dominate, conquer, and make others serve him. The Evil One whispered: “Take power for yourself. Build your kingdom on fear and control.” But Jesus refused. His kingdom would not be built by violence or pride, but by love and mercy.
And now, as he hangs upon the cross, the same temptation returns. “Save yourself!” they shout. “If you are the King, come down!” Those words echo the same old lie — that power is proven by strength, that victory means self-preservation. But Jesus will not save himself. He has come to save us. His kingship is not about himself, but about others.
At his side are two criminals — one mocks him, the other prays: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” That prayer is the heart of faith. The dying man sees, through the darkness and the pain, the true nature of Christ’s kingship. And Jesus replies with words that still console us today: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Here, at the foot of the cross, we see the kind of King we have — a King who does not destroy his enemies but forgives them, who does not reign with armies but with open arms. His throne is not built on gold or glory, but on love that endures even through death.
Brothers and sisters, to celebrate Christ the King is to ask ourselves: which kingdom do we belong to? The kingdom of power, pride, and fear — or the kingdom of compassion, truth, and mercy?
Christ reigns wherever love triumphs over hatred, wherever forgiveness is stronger than revenge, wherever the poor are lifted up and the broken are healed. This is the reign of God that begins here and now — in every act of love, every gesture of peace, every moment of mercy.
So today, let us look upon the Cross — and see our King. The One who rules not by might, but by mercy. The One who reigns not from a throne of gold, but from a heart that never stops loving. Amen.
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr Luke 20:27-40 Faith Beyond This World
In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees approach Jesus with a question meant not to learn, but to mock. They did not believe in the resurrection, so they posed a riddle about a woman who married seven brothers — hoping to make belief in life after death sound absurd. But Jesus responds with calm authority, revealing a deeper truth: heaven is not an extension of earthly life — it is a new and transformed existence in God’s love.
The Sadducees’ mistake was to limit God’s power to what they could understand. They imagined heaven in earthly terms, relationships in human categories, and life only within the boundaries of this world. Jesus reminds them — and us — that God “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” His love transcends death, and those who belong to Him will live forever.
This truth is beautifully mirrored in the life of St Cecilia, virgin and martyr. Her faith was not confined to earthly comfort or human reasoning. Even in persecution, she sang to the Lord in her heart, confident that the life she would lose in this world would be gained eternally in heaven. Her courage flowed from the same conviction Jesus proclaimed — that love endures beyond death.
As we honour St Cecilia, the patroness of sacred music, let us pray that we live with hearts attuned to eternity. May our words and actions, our joys and sufferings, all become part of that eternal hymn which never ends — the song of those who live forever in the God of the living.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 19: 45-48 A house of prayer, a heart for God
In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus entering the Temple and driving out the merchants and money changers. It is one of the few times we see him act with anger — not out of anger for himself, but for love of His Father’s house and compassion for the poor who were being exploited. The Temple was meant to be a place of prayer and encounter with God, yet it had been turned into a market where worship was overshadowed by greed. Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple was, in truth, an act of purification — a call to restore holiness where it had been lost.
This same call to purity of heart and worship is echoed beautifully in today’s feast: the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From her earliest days, tradition tells us, Mary was dedicated entirely to God. Her heart was the truest temple — spotless, humble, and open to the will of the Lord. Where the Jerusalem Temple had been corrupted by commerce, Mary became the new dwelling place of God’s presence, pure and undefiled.
In both the Gospel and the feast, we are reminded that God desires a pure heart more than grand buildings or rituals. We, too, are called to be living temples of the Holy Spirit — places where prayer, mercy, and justice flourish. Like Mary, we are invited to present ourselves wholly to God, not in outward show, but in inner sincerity.
As we honour the Presentation of Our Lady, let us ask her to help us keep our hearts free from the noise of greed, pride, and distraction. May she teach us to make our lives a “house of prayer,” where God’s presence is welcomed and His love made visible to others.
全属于祢 
您必须登录才能发表评论。