Book Reviews and More: Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Sunday, 25 November 2018

Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

The readings for this weekend's mass are:

First Reading Daniel 7:13-14
Responsorial Psalm 93:1-2, 5 Response 1a
Second Reading Revelation 1:5-8
Gospel John 18:34b-37

It is the beginning of the last week of the church year. Next week is the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new church year. This is the time of endings and the time of beginnings. The transition. Advent is the time of preparation and waiting. And this last week has that sense to it both personally and liturgically.

This weekend the children and I are traveling to my home town. I am to be the confirmation sponsor for my youngest sibling. She is 35 years younger than me. I am excited that she is being confirmed into the church on this final Sunday of the year. When I was young that diocese did the confirmations in the spring. But I think it would be great to be confirmed and immediately begin the liturgical year. But back to this week’s readings.

From the end of the first reading we are told:

“His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall not be destroyed.”

This is a hard passage for us to relate to. Looking back on history all kingdoms have either collapsed or are currently in decline. At one point in time the Dutch Trading Company controlled and influenced trade on a global scale. After that the British Navel ruled the seas. Colonization and collapse of the colonies has led to much of the strife in the world today. But the kingdom being talked about her, is that after death and judgement. The end of the second reading ties into this, we are told about Jesus:

“I am the alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

And two excerpts from the gospel reading:

“My kingdom is not from this world.
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You say that 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 me voice.”

And that is our hope, we hope in him who can save our soul. And the glory and beauty of the mass her is but a shadow of the celebration in heaven. And so as the church year ends begin to prepare for the coming of Christ as the new born baby.

I pray that your years ends on a beautiful spiritual note. And that Advent alights afresh a new flame of love for God and the church in your heart, in your spirit and in your mind.

Note: The church we are visiting is St. Paul the Apostle, in Kingston Ontario, part of the Archdiocese of Kingston.