In this world now, his kingdom WE BY THE TRUTH OF Christ

During his final Eucharist at the Luneta on January 18, 2015, Pope Francis quoted Saint Paul, affirming that God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens” (Eph 1:3). He asserted: “These words have a special resonance in the Philippines, for it is the foremost Catholic country in Asia; this is itself a special gift of God, a special blessing. But it is also a vocation. Filipinos are called to be outstanding missionaries of the faith in Asia.”

Pope Francis stressed the devotion to Saint Joseph, reminding everyone of “the importance of protecting our

families, and those larger families which are the Church.” Recalling that it was the feast-day of the Santo Niño, he noted the “need to protect, guide, and encourage our young people, helping them to build a society worthy of their great spiritual and cultural heritage.”

“Now, at the end of my visit to the Philippines, I commend you to him, to Jesus who came among us as a child. May he enable all the beloved people of this country to work together, protecting one another, beginning with your families and communities, in building a world of justice, integrity and peace. May the Santo Niño continue to bless the Philippines and to sustain the Christians of this great nation in their vocation to be witnesses and missionaries of the joy of the Gospel, in Asia and in the whole world”!

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Becoming Missionaries of Deep FaithPASTORAL CATECHESIS FOR THE YEAR OF MISSIO AD GENTES

Year 35 No. 21 Solemnity of Christ the King (B) — White November 21, 2021

Every time we end the year of the Church, we celebrate

the Solemnity of Christ the King. The end of the year reminds us of the end of time. At the end of time the kingship of Christ will be manifest to all. We proclaim this in our Responsorial Psalm: THE LORD IS KING; HE IS ROBED IN MAJESTY.

But Jesus is king not only at the end of time. Already now he is king, though his kingship is not yet manifest to all creatures. It can still be denied or belittled by many, as Pontius Pilate does (Gospel). This is so because Jesus’ kingship now is not what we in the world are used to. We think of a king as one who has a palace, who is served by an army with powerful weapons, who has many servants, who is rich and is followed by his subjects within his vast territory. Jesus has none of these. Hence, Pilate cannot believe that Jesus is king. But, as Jesus tells Pilate, Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world.

In this world now, his kingdom is truth, and all who belong to the truth are subject to him. And who in this world now serves the truth? There are many people who deny that there is any objective truth. For them truth is what is convenient and what they believe to be true. Thus, people are no longer united by the truth. They do not serve the truth. They make the truth serve them. Each one has his or her truth. So, what is truth? This is the dismissive attitude of Pilate to the truth, as he dismisses Jesus, not caring what will become of him.

But it will not always be this way. At the end of time, and this end of time will surely come, Jesus will come, and everyone will recognize him, even those who pierced him through. His reign will no longer be denied or passed over. His dominion will be everlasting. All will be subject to him and be judged by him.

We Christians are not people of this world. We live here as pilgrims, as travelers moving to our true home. Thus, in our life we already accept Jesus as our King. We live by the truth. We stand by the truth and serve it, for Jesus is Truth. We have the Spirit of Truth, who is the Spirit of Jesus who will lead us all to truth. This is our commitment to him now as our King, our commitment to the Truth!

by Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, DD

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received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

—The word of the Lord.All—Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 93)

R—The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

1. The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. (R)

2. And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD. (R)

3. Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed; holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days. (R)

Second Reading (Rv 1:5–8)

By virtue of his resurrection from the dead, Christ is declared King of kings. As King, he will come to restore all things to himself. All will be made accountable to him.

A reading from the Book of Revelation

JESUS CHRIST is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Collect

P — Let us pray. (Pause)Almighty ever-living God,

whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.All — Amen.

First Reading (Dn 7:13–14) (Sit)

The people of God is personified in One like a Son of man and is glorified for its faithfulness. The vision is now applied to Christ who calls himself the Son of Man and receives eternal glory with his death and resurrection.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

AS THE VISIONS during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance Antiphon (Rv 5:12; 1:6)(Recited when there is no opening song.)

How worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honor. To him belong glory and power for ever and ever.

Greeting(The sign of the cross is made here.)

P—The Lord be with you.All—And with your spirit.

Introduction(These [or similar words] may be used to address the assembly.)

P—Today’s Solemnity of Christ the King is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical calendar. This is fitting because Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of everything. He is the Lord of history. At the end of our journey, we will encounter him to whom we will render an account of our life.

Let us celebrate this Eucharist by uniting ourselves with our Priest and King who knows our weaknesses and mercifully intercedes for us before the Father’s throne.

Penitential Act

P—Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. (Pause)

P—You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.All—Lord, have mercy.

P—You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.All—Christ, have mercy.

P—You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.All—Lord, have mercy.

P—May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.All—Amen.

Liturgy of the word

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of Christ the King who came to serve, and not to be served. We pray: (R)

C—May Jesus, our Lord and King, heal and strengthen those who battle against the effects brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. We pray: (R)

C—As we close the liturgical year, may Jesus, the King of the universe, be the beginning and end of all our activities in life. We pray: (R)

C—May our beloved dead be welcomed by Jesus, their sure hope and Savior, as they begin their everlasting life. We pray: (R)

C—Let us pray for the urgent concerns of our community and our personal intentions (pause). We pray: (R)

P—Heavenly Father, make us faithful and trustworthy followers of Christ, our Savior and King. May we draw courage from him who has overcome the world and now reigns with you, for ever and ever.All—Amen.

Presentation of the Gifts (Stand)

P—Pray, brethren…All—May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Offerings

P—As we offer you, O Lord, the sacrifice by which the human race is reconciled to you, we humbly pray that your Son himself may bestow on all nations the gifts of unity and peace.

Through Christ our Lord.All—Amen.

Preface Christ, King of the Universe

P—The Lord be with you.All—And with your spirit.

heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (at the words that follow, up to and including and became man, all bow) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayer of the Faithful

P—We now plead our needs to our Almighty Father who willed to grace us through his Son, Jesus Christ, the King of all. Full of trust, we pray:

R—Lord, King of glory, listen to our prayer.

C—May Pope Francis, N. our bishop, priests, and deacons, work with courage and faith in sowing the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth that is now enveloped by fear and discouragement. We pray: (R)

C—May our government officials and all who serve in public office follow the example

the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

—The word of the Lord.All —Thanks be to God.

Alleluia (Mk 11:9, 10) (Stand)

All—Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 18:33b–37)

P—A reading from the holy Gospel according to JohnAll—Glory to you, O Lord.

PILATE SAID TO JESUS, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily (Sit)

Profession of Faith (Stand)

All—I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of

Liturgy of the eucharist

upon you the gifts of his blessing.All—Amen.

P—May God keep your hearts attentive to his words, that they may be filled with everlasting gladness.All—Amen.

P—And so, may you always understand what is good and right, and be found ever hastening along in the path of God’s commands, made coheirs with the citizens of heaven.All—Amen.P—And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,come down on you and remain with you for ever. All—Amen.

Dismissal

P—Our celebration is ended. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.All—Thanks be to God.

the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.All—Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Communion Antiphon (Ps 29 [28]:10–11)

The Lord sits as King for ever. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Prayer after Communion(Stand)

P—Let us pray. (Pause) Having received the food of

immortality, we ask, O Lord, that, glorying in obedience to the commands of Christ, the King of the universe, we may live with him eternally in his heavenly Kingdom.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.All—Amen.

P—The Lord be with you.All—And with your spirit.

Solemn Blessing

P—Bow down for the blessing. (Pause)

May almighty God always keep every adversity far from you and in his kindness pour out

P—Lift up your hearts.All—We lift them up to the Lord.P—Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.All—It is right and just.

P—It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For you anointed your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness as eternal Priest and King of all creation, so that, by offering himself on the altar of the Cross as a spotless sacrifice to bring us peace, he might accomplish the mysteries of human redemption and, making all created things subject to his rule, he might present to the immensity of your majesty an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.

And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory as without end we acclaim:All—Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.(Kneel)

Acclamation (Stand)

All—When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

The Lord’s Prayer

All—Our Father…P—Deliver us, Lord…All—For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

Invitation to Peace

Invitation to Communion(Kneel)

P—Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away

THE COMMUNION RITE

THE CONCLUDING RITESSambuhay English editorial teamFr. Oliver Mary Vergel O. Par, SSP

Editor

Fr. Apolinar Castor, SSPAssociate Editor

Fr. Ramil D. Tapang, SSPManaging Editor

Cl. Vinz Anthony B. Aurellano, SSP Cl. Ian Gabriel C. Ceblano, SSP

Staff