Lectio Divina

34th sunday in ordinary time

On this thirty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the liturgical year draws to a close, we hear in John’s Gospel account Jesus before Pilate. Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus tells us his kingdom is not of this world.

For more please enjoy below.

Peace be with you!

In Catholicism, Lectio Divina (from the Latin for Holy Reading) is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.  For the practitioner, it follows a common rhythm of quiet reading (often aloud to oneself), of thoughtful meditation and contemplation on what one has read, and then, if so moved, of a prayerful dialogue with God in response to what one has encountered in scripture.  This reflective, meditative, active listening, if you will, allows the Holy Spirit to deepen one's awareness of God's presence and invites His initiative to speak with us.

gospel

LISTEN: You say I am a king.

A reading from the Gospel according to John 18:33b-37

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.

REFLECTION

CONSIDER:

christ the king

From a homily by Saint Josemaría Escrivá

The liturgical year is coming to a close and in the holy sacrifice of the altar we renew the offering of the victim to the Father — the offering of Christ, the king of justice, love and peace, as we shall read shortly in the preface. You all experience a great joy in your souls as you consider the sacred humanity of our Lord. He is a king with a heart of flesh, like yours; he is the author of the universe and of every creature, but he does not lord it over us. He begs us to give him a little love, as he silently shows us his wounds.

Why then do so many people not know him? Why do we still hear that cruel protest: “We do not want this man to reign over us”? There are millions of people in the world who reject Jesus Christ in this way; or rather they reject his shadow, for they do not know Christ. They have not seen the beauty of his face, they do not realize how wonderful his teaching is. This sad state of affairs makes me want to atone to our Lord. When I hear that endless clamor — expressed more in ignoble actions than in words — I feel the need to cry out, “He must reign!”

Many people will not accept that Christ should reign. They oppose him in thousands of ways: in their attitude toward their circumstances, in their approach to human society, in morality, in science and the arts. Even in the Church itself! “I am not referring,” says St Augustine, “to those scoundrels who blaspheme against Christ with their tongues. There are very many who blaspheme against him through their own conduct.”

Some people are even annoyed by the expression “Christ the king.” They take naive objection to the word, as if Christ’s kingship could be thought of in political terms. Or they refuse to admit that Christ is king, because that would involve accepting his law. And law they will not accept, not even the wonderful precept of charity, for they do not want to reach out to God’s love. Their ambition is to serve their own selfishness.

For many year now, our Lord has urged me to repeat a silent cry, Serviam: “I will serve!” Let us ask him to strengthen our desire to give ourselves, to be faithful to his calling — with naturalness, without fuss or noise — in the middle of everyday life. Let us thank him from the depth of our heart. We will pray to him as his subjects, as his sons! And our mouth will be filled with milk and honey. We will find great pleasure in speaking of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of freedom, a freedom he has won for us.

“Christ the King” is an excerpt from the homily given by St. Josemaria Escriva on the Solemnity of Christ the King (November 22, 1970). The homily is published by Scepter Publishers in the book “Christ is Passing By”.

Saint Josemaría Escrivá (d. 1975) was the founder of Opus Dei, which promotes the pursuit of sanctity in everyday life.

Information herein posted under the "rules of fair use" to foster education and discussion in accordance with Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.

video reflection

Word on Fire

Friends, this Feast of Christ the King encapsulates what the Christian life is all about. All the other celebrations of the year are leading us to this conclusion, and on this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we are asked the question: Is Christ the King of your life?

Is Jesus King of Your Life?

PRAYER

Let us pray.

Jesus, you are the King of Glory.
 Please enter my heart, that your glory may be there.
 Please enter my mind, that your glory may be there.
 Let my heart, mind, and body glorify you.

Jesus, you are the King of Everlasting Peace.
 Please enter my heart, that your peace may be there.
 Please enter my mind, that your peace may be there.
 Let my heart, mind, and body be instruments of your peace.

Jesus, you are the King of the Universe;
 You are the firstborn of all creation.
 You are God from God,
 You are Light from Light,
 You are true God from true God.

I invite you, Jesus, take root in my heart.
I invite you, Jesus, take root in my mind.
I invite you, Jesus, take root in my body.
 Let me be a temple of the Holy Spirit
 in all I think, believe, say, and do.

Let me see as you see.
Let me hear as you hear.
Let me touch as you touch.
Let me breathe as you breathe.
 Let me live in you, as you live in me.

Jesus, be my King; 
 Help me to know you.
 Help me to love you.
 Help me to serve you.
 Help me to give my life over to you.

Jesus, my King, let me do your will.

Amen.

Author, Reason2bCatholic