Today is the last Sunday in ordinary time. We will be entering a new phase in the liturgical life of the Church. The gospel reading today couldn't be more appropriate on the feast we are celebrating - the Solemnity of Christ the King. In the passage written by John, Jesus stands in front of Pilate - a scene of obvious contrast. Pilate is rich and has access to military power while Jesus is poor and shackled as a prisoner. When they discuss the question of kingship, it is very clear that Pilate has in mind political power and Jesus has in mind a different power, which is beyond the earth could have known.
 
Jesus is testifying on the truth that the only truly effective and lasting power in the world is that of unselfish love. This truth is so revolutionary that it can only be believed and experienced with the gift of faith. Here, the King of Kings is bound as a prisoner because He loves others and He will soon give His very own life for love of them. This love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross will conquer the hearts of millions, while the earthly power of Pilate will fall into the ground.
 
Sometimes we find it difficult to believe that quiet, gentle and persistent love, which only seeks the good of others, can be more powerful than all money and missiles combined on which we rely for security. We need to open ourselves to all the ways that God manifests His love for us. It is only then that we can trust the unconditional love of God in spite of much evil in this world and use that love to transform the universe, one life at a time.

When I first came here to America, I realized how important Emergency 911 Response is. I have heard and read stories about people calling 911 and were helped or rescued in no time, that’s how quick these men and women are in helping others. Of course, I also have heard funny stories of kids dialing 911 because they need help with their assignments or they need help finding their missing toys. One thing is for sure, I always have my 911 number ready in my phone, just in case.
 
The gospel passage we hear today sounds like a set-up for a 911 call to heaven. Jesus seems to be saying that when it appears the sky really is falling, look for God. Today’s readings, invite us to consider those times in our own lives when, with seeming catastrophe near, we made a 911 call to God. Sometimes the response was not immediate, or we didn’t get the answer we wanted or were expecting. Yet, strangely, still we give thanks, still we remember his faithfulness, still we celebrate his promise to be with us always. 

Hope is the reason. The Thanksgiving Day is coming up and what a wonderful day to celebrate our hope. As a parish community, we hope for a lot of things – we hope that we can build together a community of love, a community that celebrates life, a community that centers our hope in Jesus. On Thursday this week, let us join everyone in giving thanks to God for blessings us to this day and for giving us the reason to HOPE.
​

The gospel today features a woman who in the words of Our Lord, gives “from her poverty” in contrast to those who have given out of their surplus wealth.
 
Today is Stewardship Sunday. As Christian stewards we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice and return them with increase to the Lord – these are the words of the bishops of the United States regarding Stewardship Sunday. Our scripture readings today features two widows who really challenge us – YES, you and me, to reflect on our own stewardship. Christian Stewardship is a call to hold everything with open hands. Those who offer all they have and are – knowing that both all they have and all they are is a gift from God is so different from what appears to be a culture of clenched fists – a practice of grasping, a life-style of holding.
 
I am so grateful that our parish is blessed with so many generous community members who like the widows in today’s readings “give from the heart.” More than anything else, Stewardship Sunday is about recognizing the members of our community who selflessly offer their time, treasure and talents for the building up of this parish community. You are all good stewards of God’s gifts.
 
As your pastor and co-steward in this community, I would like to ask your renewed commitment to good stewardship of the Church. Yes, you are important to continuing the redemptive work of Jesus, which is the essential mission of the Church. As a parish, it is our task together to “proclaim and teach, to serve and sanctify” each other in our effort to build a community of loving disciples of Jesus Christ. Thank you sacrificing for your family, for this parish and for the Universal Church … for holding everything you have and are with open hands. Thank you.

Jesus summed up in today’s gospel the whole history of faith and salvation in two commandments – love of God and love of neighbors. But the base of these two commandments is pointed towards the discovery of self-love. Finding and carrying out these commandments start with ourselves. In finding and experiencing God’s love we come to know that loving and sacrificing our self in love is the way of faith and finding God. The pursuit of the world with its vanities and values and excuses and self-centeredness, and its concepts of reward and punishment, all confound and hide what is the true value of God’s love. God loves all of us personally. No matter what we do, that love remains perfect. It is what WE do to respond and return that love that determines our relationship with God. He always responds to us, but how do we respond to him? How do we respond to our neighbor? Are we petty, arrogant, harassing, prejudiced, judgmental, unforgiving, or unloving in a hundred other ways? Are these ways of developing and growing in love of finding God who is love itself? Love is a living growing active thing. Certainly the love of a young just married couple changes as the years go on. It deepens and unites them all the more. So it is with our Love of God and how we stand with Him. Love is not easy, because it requires much work. At the same time it is joyful because it is self-fulfilling and God gives us His love to do it.