A comment made by a parent during our recent parish school auction dinner and gala night continues to linger in my mind. “By the way, Father, I’m not Catholic; I’m Jewish,” the parent said. “But I send my son to your school because I appreciate the values you teach our children.” Her statement resonated deeply with me, filling me with pride for the Catholic education we provide. It also made me realize the importance of our school ministry in these challenging times within our secular society. The moral and spiritual values we impart to our children are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We uphold the teachings and examples that Jesus provided during His time on earth. These values include self-sacrifice, unconditional love and forgiveness, service and compassion for others-especially the poor, vulnerable, and those on the margins of our society-respect for human dignity at all stages of life, as well as peace, justice, truthfulness, fidelity, and patience. Friends, this is what we celebrate and uphold this Sunday on the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. We honor the power and authority of Jesus in our lives, acknowledging that He is our shepherd and leader, whose kingship is characterized by tenderness rather than the mere exercise of power. As the image of the invisible God, His dominion encompasses everything over which God reigns. As the Head of the Body, the Church, He leads us in an intimate relationship, not as a distant or disinterested ruler. He is present in our lives and actively involved in our journey. As we conclude the liturgical year, let us cherish the moments when we have ardently upheld the values of Christ’s Kingdom and demonstrated the true essence of Christ’s Church on earth. These moments occur on Sundays and holidays when we come together for worship; during community events that express our unity and commitment to our Church and our mission to support the needy; when we prepare our children for school, guide them, and show them our unconditional love; or even when we help an elderly neighbor bring out her trash bins. Christ’s Kingdom flourishes when we build a just society and embrace honest leadership. It becomes evident when we form a joyful, welcoming, engaging, and faith-filled community. May we all work together harmoniously to build Christ’s Kingdom here on earth until His return! Blessings, Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas.
https://asianjournal.com/features/from-the-pastors-desk/on-the-celebration-of-christ-the-king/
On the Celebration of Christ the King
