Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Year B - Last Sunday in Ordinary Time

In Catholic Lectionary Today's readings:

• 📖 First reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
• 📖 Second reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
• 📖 Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 ✨

🌿 On this solemnity, we celebrate Christ as the King of all creation, whose reign is marked by justice, mercy, and sacrificial love.

💖 In the first reading from Ezekiel, God is portrayed as the shepherd who tenderly cares for His flock, seeking the lost, healing the injured, and providing rest for the weary. This imagery reflects Christ’s pastoral kingship, revealing a ruler who does not dominate but nurtures, protects, and restores. God also promises to judge justly, holding each accountable for their actions.

🌅 In the second reading, St. Paul emphasizes Christ’s victory over sin and death through His resurrection. Jesus is the “firstfruits” of those who have died, assuring us of our own resurrection. His reign will bring the ultimate fulfillment of God’s kingdom, where death, the final enemy, will be destroyed, and all will be united under God’s eternal rule.

🌟 The Gospel reveals Christ as the King who judges nations based on acts of love and service. In this final judgment, the righteous inherit the kingdom prepared for them because they cared for the least among them—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. Their deeds were done to Christ Himself. This passage underscores the inseparable link between our love for God and our love for others. It challenges us to see Christ in the marginalized and to live out our faith through concrete actions of compassion and justice.

🕊️ As we close the liturgical year, we are invited to reflect on Christ’s kingship in our lives. Is He truly our King, guiding our choices and actions? Are we recognizing His presence in the least of our brothers and sisters? By embracing His call to selfless love and service, we prepare ourselves to share in His eternal kingdom.

#ChristTheKing #ServantKing #LoveAndService #VictoryOverDeath #GodsKingdom

Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Columban, Abbot

In Catholic Lectionary Today's readings:

• 📖 First reading: Revelation 11:4-12
• 📖 Gospel: Luke 20:27-40 ✨

🌿 The readings today center on the courage to witness to God’s truth, the promise of resurrection, and eternal life with Him.

💖 In the first reading, the two witnesses in Revelation endure persecution, suffering martyrdom but are ultimately vindicated by God as they are resurrected and ascend to heaven. This powerful imagery reminds us that, although being a witness to God’s truth may involve trials and opposition, faithfulness to God leads to ultimate victory. It assures us that God’s power triumphs over death, granting eternal life to His faithful servants. 🌌

🌟 In the Gospel, the Sadducees challenge Jesus with a question about the resurrection, attempting to discredit the idea. Jesus responds by teaching that the resurrection is transformative: those who are raised are like angels, no longer bound by earthly constraints like marriage, and are children of God. He emphasizes that God is “not God of the dead, but of the living,” affirming the reality of resurrection and life beyond death for those who belong to Him. 🕊️

🕯️ On this memorial, we honor Saint Clement I, known for his leadership in the early Church and his courageous witness to the faith, and Saint Columban, a missionary who spread the Gospel with zeal and devotion. Their lives echo the message of today’s readings, demonstrating unwavering trust in God’s promises and the courage to bear witness to His truth.

Let us be inspired by their example to live as faithful witnesses, trusting in the hope of resurrection and eternal life with God. May we stand firm in our faith, confident that God’s power will bring us to share in His eternal glory. 🙏💖

#WitnessToFaith #GodOfTheLiving #PromiseOfResurrection #FaithfulStewardship #SaintClementAndSaintColumban

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Year B - Friday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

In Catholic Lectionary Today's readings:

• 📖 First reading: Revelation 10:8-11
• 📖 Gospel: Luke 19:45-48 ✨

🌟 The readings today invite us to reflect on the bittersweet call of faithfulness to God’s truth and the reverence we must uphold in our sacred spaces and hearts.

💖 In the first reading, John is commanded to take and eat the scroll from the angel. Its sweetness and subsequent sourness symbolize the dual nature of prophecy: while God’s word brings hope and joy, it also contains difficult truths that demand courage to proclaim. This passage reminds us that following Christ involves accepting both the blessings and challenges of sharing His truth with the world. 🌿

🌅 In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple, reclaiming it as a house of prayer. His actions challenge us to reflect on the sacredness of our worship spaces and the purity of our intentions. Just as Jesus sought to restore the temple’s true purpose, we are called to ensure that our hearts—our personal temples—are focused on God, free from distractions and misuse. 🕊️

🎶 Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, exemplifies steadfast faith and unwavering devotion. Her life and martyrdom reflect the sweetness of faith in Christ and the willingness to endure suffering for His sake. She inspires us to live lives of purity, courage, and joyful witness to God’s love, using our unique gifts to glorify Him.

Today, as we honor St. Cecilia, let us commit to proclaiming God’s word with both sweetness and boldness, maintaining reverence in our worship and keeping our hearts as true houses of prayer. 🙏💞

#SaintCecilia #FaithfulWitness #HouseOfPrayer #ProclaimGodsTruth #ReverenceAndDevotion