THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING LEADS OFF THE FINAL WEEK OF THE CHURCH YEAR.........

This Sunday, November 22, 2009, is the 46th anniversary of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first and only Catholic ever yet to be elected to the White House. The young martyred President was 46 years old on November 22, 1963, the day he died. Which means he would be double his age today were he alive, 92 years old. Like the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the end of World War II in 1945; or the Moon Landing in 1969; and the occurrence of 9-11, in 2001; the day President Kennedy died will always be remembered by those who were alive, for where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. On November 22, 1963, I was 7 years old, in the Second Grade at Woodbine School, in South Sacramento. I remember going home to lunch as usual and the weather changing to cold and overcast outside during lunchtime. When I returned to my classroom a change had occurred on the bulletin board trimming above the blackboard. Mrs. Marshman, my second grade teacher had the pictures of the previous 34 Presidents posted with President Kennedy's photograph centered in the middle as the 35th and sitting, President of the United States. But one thing was different : black paper was now surrounding JFK'S picture. She then stood at the front of the classroom and told us that President Kennedy was gone and that we had a new President, Lyndon Johnson. I also remember it hardly seems we turned the tv off, or went to bed for the next three days, as wall to wall, coverage of his death and funeral were the only thing presented.
Today November 22, 2009, being the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year is the Solemnity of CHRIST THE KING...We celebrate as Catholic-Christians the universal and indisputable Kingship of Jesus the Christ, not as a worldly monarch, or temporal political power, but as the infinite Lord and King of Creation, for eternity. Christ the King is the Saving and Redeeming Son of the One, Living and True God, the source of everlasting life for all believers. Daniel, the prophet in today's First Reading from the Sacred Scriptures, refers to the End Times and Escathalogy, the transition from this world of imperfect human nature to God's Kingdom of light, love, and Eternal Life. The Book of Revelation, our Second Reading from Scripture, speaks to us of Jesus the Christ as the, "Alpha and Omega", of Creation. Jesus as the King of Glory, is the beginning and end of everything and a, "Faithful Witness", to the Heavenly Father, who empowers us to faithfully witness to God ourselves...John's Gospel proclamation presents the dialogue over kingship between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, prior to Christ's Passion and Death. In it, Jesus affirms His is not a temporal, political, kingship, but rather inaugurates a Kingdom of Truth and Light. In this final week of the Church Year may you and your families experience the power and promise of being, "Faithful Witnesses" to Christ Our King, and as God's People live the truth of the Gospel Values and Paschal Mystery, Jesus the Christ calls us to follow and embrace everyday of the year.........Peace + Prayers in Christ The King, Our One, True, Light to God's Kingdom, Fr. Troy