Pastor's Corner Nov.17th - A Heart of Readiness - Trusting in God’s Divine Plan
Pastor’s Corner 17.11.2024
The last Sunday of the liturgical year in ordinary time is the 33rd Sunday of the year. Next Sunday, before we begin Advent, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ as Universal King. The readings for this Sunday focus on end times, the signs that will appear and the uncertainty around them. The gospel concludes with the sentence: “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the Angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32). So, our anxiety and anxiousness should be turned into trust and expectation and preparedness. God is in total control of our lives and situation. We surrender to God’s holy will not out of desperation but out of trust that He has a plan for each of us and that is the reason “that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
We celebrate this week….
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Thursday 21 November
The feast of the presentation of Mary dates back to the 6th century in the East and the 15th century in the West. It is based on an ancient tradition that says Mary was taken to the temple in Jerusalem when she was 3-years-old and dedicated to God. What we celebrate on this day is the fact that God chose to dwell in Mary in a very special way. In response, Mary placed her whole self at the service of God. Every moment since your Baptism, God invites you to be open to his grace and dedicate yourself to him, as Mary did.
St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr: Friday 23 November:
St. Cecilia was born into an affluent Roman family in the third century. Her name is included in the Roman Canon alongside the names of other early Church martyrs.
Tradition tells us that Cecilia converted to Christianity and made a vow of virginity, but her parents forced her into marriage with a pagan nobleman named Valerian. On her wedding day, while instruments played, Cecilia sang to God in her heart. It’s one of the reasons why Cecilia is known as the patroness of music, musicians, and poets.
St. Cecilia is a powerful intercessor for those who are involved in music and the arts. She is able to help musicians improve their skills, find inspiration, and overcome challenges.
Let us remember to pray for our choirs on this day. May God bless them through the intercession of St. Cecilia for their dedicated service.
Christ the King: Sunday 24 November
On the last Sunday of each liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King.
Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 with his encyclical Quas primas (“In the first”) to respond to growing secularism and atheism. He recognized that attempting to “thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law” out of public life would result in continuing discord among people and nations. This solemnity reminds us that while governments come and go, Christ reigns as King forever.
For Christians, when our faith is repeatedly marginalized in public life, we can fall into the habit of compartmentalizing our lives. We love Jesus in our private lives, but we shrink from acknowledging the kingship of Christ in social life. When we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord of the Church and of the entire universe.