THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Sunday, November 24th, 2019

Feast of Christ the King 2019

 

This weekend marks the end of the Liturgical Year. It is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time which is celebrated as the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The “shorthand” name that I think most people know is, the Feast of Christ the King. It is fitting that we should end the liturgical year with such a Solemnity as it helps to bring into focus what the liturgical year is really all about. All throughout the liturgical year we have been recalling the wonders of God’s Loving Plan of Salvation for the world revealed through the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus. What better way for us to “wrap up” this journey of Love than to gather as His Body and to give thanks and praise to God for giving us His Son as King and Ruler of our hearts and of the entire universe!!

And speaking of Thanksgiving, this annual holiday will be celebrated this upcoming Thursday. Having grown up in Massachusetts, about a 40 minute drive from Plymouth (home of the “Mayflower” ship, Plymouth rock, and the Plymouth Plantation), I can remember field trips to the Plantation during Grade School which really always made this holiday come alive in a special way!! And while many in today’s society might take objection to this holiday citing the oppressive actions and disruption to life that European settlers imposed on the Native Americans, I was always taught that this holiday was one that celebrated the support and friendship of the Native Americans with their new neighbors from Europe, and most importantly that this celebration marked a joint celebration of thanksgiving to God for the bounty of the harvest that would sustain the people through the harsh New England winter that lied ahead.

Giving thanks to God for all of the Blessings that God so generously pours out on us is something that has largely fallen out of practice. I think that we are more inclined to acknowledge the wonders of genetically engineered seeds and fertilizer that give us a bountiful harvest rather than the Hand of God. Acknowledging and naming God as the True Author and Giver of ALL things is central to our lives as Christians. Giving thanks to God why we gather to celebrate the Mass. The Greek word for thanksgiving is “eucharistia” which is why we call the celebration of the Mass a celebration of the Holy Euscharist…a celebration of thanksgiving. In fact, in the dialogue that begins the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest calls on the Assembly to, “let us give thanks to the Lord, our God” to which the Assembly responds, “It is right and just.” The priest then continues, “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks , Lord, Holy Father, almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord.”

So, while our nation celebrates a “holiday” of Thanksgiving with parties, parades, traditional turkey dinners, football, and quality family time, it is good for us who call ourselves “Christian” to be ever mindful of our calling to be a People of Thanksgiving every day of our lives.   --Father Tom Gaughan C.S.C.