Scripture
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - November 24, 2024
“My Kingdom Does Not Belong To This World”
Next Sunday begins the season of Advent, which will help us prepare our hearts to receive our Lord and King at His birth. Our Church now turns our attention to a foremost reality of our faith - that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Son of God. He is Lord of the universe but He is also Lord of our hearts, our minds, our lives, and our families.
In our first reading (Daniel 7:13-14), Daniel tells of a vision seeing a divine, heavenly being and yet human in appearance (“one like a Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven”). Even Old Testament writers interpreted this as the messianic figure. Jesus is often quoted in the Gospels as referring to Himself as “Son of Man”. Often, when He used this term, many believe He was talking about the end times. Many scholars believe that when He used this term, He had in mind this passage from Daniel, chapter 7.
In our Epistle reading from the Book of Revelation (RV 1:5-8), St. John wrote of the end times, the apocalypse, when he wrote, "he is coming amid the clouds", and that he has made us into "priests for his God and Father." As priests, we are called to teach, to witness, and to love, as our model Christ did for us.
In our Gospel reading (John 18:33-37), we hear a scene from the passion narrative of the Gospel of St. John, as Jesus was interrogated by Pilate. Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." Jesus is not like any king the world would know. He is a servant king, one who reigns in love, not in violence, one who seeks the lost and rescues them.
On this Feast of Christ the King, we are reminded that Jesus is King of heaven and earth and His kingdom is eternal. Because of this, we are called to invite Jesus to reign as Lord and King of our hearts, our families, our avocations, our professions, our hopes and dreams - every aspect of our lives. To do less is to make Jesus a part-time king (with a small k). Jesus invites us to make Him the center of our lives.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112424.cfm
Upcoming Events
- Women Enjoying Rediscovering Our Catholicism - Tuesdays at 9:00 am in Room 1
- Sensory Friendly Mass - Saturday, November 23 at 5 pm
- Breakfast @ St. Rita - Sunday, December 1 from 8:30-10:30 am
- Advent Extravaganza - Monday, December 2 from 4:30 to 7 pm
- Youth Group - Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm
- Journeying through Advent with Hope - Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 16, & Dec 23 - 9:30 am OR 6:30 pm
Latest News
- Join the Events team - we need your help!
- Introducing OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- St. Rita Business Directory - add your business today!
- Liturgical Ministers - schedules and info here
- Beware of Scam Requests - if you recently received a text or email from Fr. Tim asking for gift cards or a favor, please be aware that this did not come from Fr. Tim
- Thanksgiving Blessings and Christmas Angels - donations gratefully accepted now!
- Hands of Christ - nominate a high school senior today!
What's Happening This Week
Faith at Home
- Online Resources for Advent -
- 3 Minute Retreat - from Loyola Press; take a short prayer break right at your computer by spending some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage
- The Family Zone - a weekly Family Zone Newsletter, provided by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Diocese of Rochester
Help
- How Can We Help You? - let us know!
- Helping Those in Need - "Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters..."