Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, the King of the Universe. It is also the last Sunday in Ordinary Time of the liturgical Year before Advent. Today, we celebrate a joyful feast in honor of Our Lord Jesus as King of the Universe. We celebrate his kingship as the Messiah and our Redeemer. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Author of life, the great Physician and the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the resurrection, the way, the truth and the life.

Christ the King remains present in the Eucharist, among the sick, the poor and the rich. He is present in our family and in the world. He is present in our lives. His dominion is everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away; his kingship shall not be destroyed.”

As baptized Christians, we share in the Kingship of Christ and we exercise this Kingship when we truly place ourselves at the service of others. He came to serve and not to be served. This is something we should all imitate. He humbled himself and gave his life as a ransom for many.

QESTIONS TO PONDER:

How best do we serve Christ, the King in our actions and words?

How best do we honor Him in our daily life and in God’s people?

How best do we trust Him to bless us?

How best do we praise coming to Mass on Sunday?

How best do we support his ministry to the parish.?

As King, he was compassionate, merciful, kind and he gave his own life for all. We too are called to follow Christ, the King examples, to be compassionate to one another, to show mercy, love and a simple act of kindness and be supportive of our community. There are people out there, feeling unloved, people who have not yet known the fullness of Christ, simply because of the difficulties and the circumstances that are challenging for them, someone in your family, your neighbors, your roommate, at your office, in your community, a good friend of yours, or someone who’s in a period of darkness right now, he or she can’t see. That kind of person or people need your presence, they need your love, your smile or anything that can restore their happiness again.

St. Paul would say; “ I didn’t come to preach myself, but to preach Christ, the King” It’s not about me, is about Christ in the faces of these people.” The only road to attain salvation is the road to charity, love, peace, and justice. I encourage you today to be a blessing to others, for this you were created and sent. It doesn’t have to be something big. Just a simple small act of kindness would go a long way in their lives. Just be nice and be good to people.

On the forefront of your mind is not how can I be blessed but how can I be a blessing. My parents always told me, if you make someone’s day, God would always make your own day. If you bring a smile to their faces, God will bring a smile to your face. This is the most rewarding way to live not what can I get, but what can I give. Not what you do for me, but what can I do for you.

Our ministry is to be good to people. God told Abraham I will bless you and you will be a blessing to the nations…St. Paul tells us in Galatians 16, “Don’t miss an opportunity to be good to people…”

We who honor Jesus Christ as our King and Savior are called to be committed to the truth of the Gospel and our faith. As Christians we cannot claim to be Christians while at the same time harboring lies and hatred. Let’s avoid everything negative and allow Jesus to reign in our lives as King.

We are encouraged as we prepare for thanksgiving this week to do more of charity, sacrifices and prayer, to reach out to people, family, friends etc. So often we are praying for a miracle. But we have to realize we can become someone’s miracle. When you become a miracle to someone. God will make sure you get paid back. Your gifts, your generosity, your kindness, your sacrifices and for all the good you do, will surely come back to you in full.  Let’s allow Jesus to reign in our lives as King, the King of our family.

As we prepare for thanksgiving this coming week I encourage we do more of charity and prayer, to reach out to people, family, friends, especially to those who do not have what to eat or where to go, etc.

Be generous and kind like the good Shepherd.

God is good…all the time.

God bless you.

Fr. Daniel E. Ogbeifun