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24 Nov 2013 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

Back in the day when most people thought the universe wasn’t all that big and that earth and the sun sat pretty much in the middle, it’s wasn’t too hard to imagine how God could have created it all. Now that we know, however, how almost incomprehensibly huge outer space is, it can seem almost as baffling how God could care about such a minute spot like our planet—but yet, amazingly, God does. “In him all things hold together.” How can you affirm your faith in such a vast universe of creation?

Creation universe

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23 Nov 2014 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

Penitential Act Invitation The Lord rescues us, gives us rest, and heals us. Invocations Lord God, you seek out and bring back those who have strayed. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, when we care for those in need, we show our love for you. Christ, have mercy. Lord, God, even death has no power against you. Lord, have mercy. Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer As we end another year of grace, we turn in prayer to Christ, who reigns in our hearts and minds. Lord God, let us be ready at all times and in creative ways to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and those in prison, and bury the dead, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, like a shepherd you care for and guide your people. Let us be as good a shepherd to one another as you are to us, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, the Resurrection has begun in your Son Jesus the Christ. In our time may we follow those who have gone before us into the eternal life you have prepared for us, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Merciful God, you sent Christ to be our king, not through worldly power, but in service to all. Listen to our prayers, as we listen and respond to those around us, especially your poor ones and those most in need. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and King.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, Cycle A

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24 Nov 2013 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

Penitential Act Invitation Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. Invocations Lord God, you call us to share in your life. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you reconcile all things. Christ, have mercy. Lord God, you invite us into your kingdom. Lord, have mercy. Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer Thankful to God who has made us to share in redemption, we pray: Gather all your people to eternal life, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Help the leaders of the world to rule with concern for the common good and not their own power and wealth, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Bring all who live in the darkness of sin to the light of your redeeming kingdom, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Let all those gathered here in the house of God find inspiration in our worship, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

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25 Nov 2012 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

Penitential Act Invitation Christ is our King, who judges us fairly and with love. Let us confess to him our faults. Invocations For the times we have not served the Lord, Lord have mercy. For the times when we have rejected Jesus. Christ, have mercy. For the times we have not listened to the truths Jesus teaches, Lord, have mercy. Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer Our Lord Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth. With faith in this truth, we make known our prayers. May the church, which is in the world but not of it, devote itself to the service of God’s kingdom, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. May the rulers of all nations see beyond their own power and wealth to the common good of the people they serve, and to whom they are responsible to God, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. May those who have been handed over unfairly to authorities find justice and freedom, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. May this community find in the faithful witness of Jesus the inspiration to witness to him, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. O Lord, you have received kingship and glory. May our prayers reach you who has granted us salvation. We ask this in Christ our Lord.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

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Life beyond Earth not such an alien idea anymore

26 Jul 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The call we have received is marvelous, says the reading from the Letter to the Ephesians. Scientists dedicated to listening to the sounds of the universe to see if anyone out there is “calling” us got a boost this week with the announcement of a new $100 million initiative dedicated to scouring the universe for signals from distant planets. Yuri Milner, a billionaire particle physicist and investor, announced the 10-year "Breakthrough" initiatives at the Royal Society in London with other top scientists, including physicist Stephen Hawking. "Somewhere in the cosmos, perhaps, intelligent life may be watching," said Hawking. "It's time to commit to finding the answer—to search for life beyond Earth." Homily help: Years ago most of us scoffed at the idea that intelligent life might exist “out there” in the cosmos. But the more we study the universe and the better our tools get, the more we realize that conditions indeed exist for the possibility of life, in many directions and beyond our imagination. God is infinite; we should not be surprised if God’s gift of life turns out to be equally vast. Support astronomy—it opens us to mystery and awe, gateways to the divine. For more on the "Breakthrough" initiatives, see: Stephen Hawking, Russian billionaire launch massive search for alien intelligence

Creation universe extraterrestrial life

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20 Nov 2011 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

Penitential Act Invitation The Lord rescues us, gives us rest, and heals us. Invocations Lord God, you seek out and bring back those who have strayed. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, when we care for those in need, we show our love for you. Christ, have mercy. Lord, God, even death has no power against you. Lord, have mercy. Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer As we end another year of grace, we turn in prayer to Christ, who reigns in our hearts and minds: Lord God, let us be ready at all times and in creative ways to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and those in prison, and bury the dead, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, like a shepherd you care for and guide your people. Let us be as good a shepherd to one another as you are to us, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, the resurrection has begun in your Son Jesus the Christ. In our time may we follow those who have gone before us into the eternal life you have prepared for us, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Merciful God, you sent Christ to be our king, not through worldly power, but in service to all. Listen to our prayers, as we listen and respond to those around us, especially your poor ones and those most in need. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and King.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

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21 Nov 2010 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

Penitential Act Invitation Encouraged by God's promise of salvation, let us pray for reconciliation with God and one another. Invocations Lord Jesus, you welcome us into your Kingdom. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are the firstborn of all creation and the firstborn of the dead. Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you shepherd your people. Lord, have mercy. Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer We come rejoicing to the house of the Lord. With Christ enthroned in our hearts and minds, we offer these our prayers. We believe everything has been created in and through Christ. That we may be good stewards of creation and citizens of the kingdom of God, we pray to the Lord. Christ is the image of the invisible God, in whose image we are made. That all people may recognize the value and dignity of every person, we pray to the Lord. Christ is the head of the body, the church. That the members of Christ's church may find redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace, we pray to the Lord. Sovereign God, all fullness dwells in your Son. Hear our prayers, and lead us and all the world to the fulfilment of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord and King, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle C

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22 Nov 2009 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

Prayer of the Faithful The universal prayer As we reach the end of the church’s year, we celebrate Christ’s kingship as the crown of our celebrations of Christ’s life during this past year and also as the Lord of our lives. Let us pray to God, in whose kingdom we dwell. All power belongs to God. May the rulers of this world use their power not for domination, but for service, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. We welcome Jesus as the king of peace. May his example lead us to imitate him, giving ourselves to be instruments of reconciliation and ministering to all without distinction, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. The Lord is the master of life and death. May his love hold us up through the difficulties of our journey on earth, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. Jesus is a faithful witness. May we his church listen to his voice and work to bring about his kingdom, both now and to come, we pray, Lord, hear our prayer. God our Creator, you bring us to both ends and beginnings—the end of the Christian year, and to the end times, the beginning of the kingdom that will not pass away. Give answer to our prayers and reveal to us the truth of your ways. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

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The truth will set you free

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Occasion: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Lectionary 160, 161, 162) “Our Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come ...” HOW MANY TIMES have we prayed those words: “thy Kingdom come”? Do we even know what we are praying for? What does it mean that Jesus is King? What does it mean that he shall receive dominion, glory, and kingship? That his dominion is an everlasting dominion? That he is robed in majesty? I don’t know about you, but, other than watching The Throne or The Crown, I have no concept of kings or kingdoms and sovereign rulers. We have so many examples of bad kings that it is hard to imagine Jesus as a king. To truly understand the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, we have to pay attention to what the scripture says about Jesus’ kingship. At Jesus’ trial before his death, Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you a king?” Jesus says that his Kingdom is not of this world. Then Jesus says, “I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the Truth listens to my voice.” Pilate responds with the rhetorical question, “What is truth?” And that, my dear brothers and sisters, is what the Kingdom of Jesus is about and why we need the Kingdom of Christ: truth. The crisis of our day—and of every day from the beginning of time—is a crisis of truth. We live in a world where human beings think that they can define truth and that “what’s true for you is not necessarily true for me.” The crisis of our day—and of every day from the beginning of time—is a crisis of truth. We live in a world where human beings think that they can define truth and that “what’s true for you is not necessarily true for me.” Where we don’t think that truth is objective and universal. Where every generation has its “What is truth?” moment. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent subtly questions Truth, “Did God really say that you would die?” His question instills doubt. Things start to seem partly true, but not completely true. It is confusing. The deliberate half truths, doubt, and confusion lead to power struggles, conflicts, and wars that wreck havoc on our world. The real root of the problem stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of truth. Truth is not a what; truth is a who, a person. The question is not “What is truth?” The question is “Who is truth?” And we know the answer. Jesus is the truth. He told us so himself, “I am the way, the truth and life” (John 14:6). That’s why He came to testify to the truth, because He is the truth. That’s why those who belong to the truth listen to his voice. Jesus Christ is truth and his Kingdom is one where truth reigns. This is why I think it makes perfect sense that it is on the feast of Christ the King that we also celebrate the annual diocesan celebration of World Youth Day around the world. What does truth have to do with the young? Well, young people seek the truth; they are thirsty for it. They have a zeal and passion for what’s true, what’s just, what’s right. Young people remind us, in their quest for truth, that it is a who, not a what, that they seek. As Saint Anselm phrased it in his beautiful prayer: Let me seek you by desiring you, and desire you by seeking you; let me find you by loving you, and love you in finding you. May we be like young people and always desire to seek the truth, and in finding the truth in Jesus, desire to seek him all the more. Let’s allow Jesus to have dominion over every aspect of our lives; not just what is safe and convenient. Yes, Jesus will rule with perfect justice, but also with perfect mercy. Next time you pray the Lord’s Prayer and you say, “Thy Kingdom come,” know that you are asking for the truth to come. And when you find the truth, it will set you free.

Authors Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann

holy day/feast Christ the King Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

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