#MyMassTakeaway: Christ the King!

Today’s the Solemnity of Christ the King

Find the Mass Readings here: Solemnity of Christ the King, November 26, 2017.

My takeaway:

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

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Happy Solemnity of Christ the King! 👑 Today’s gospel talks about the actions of Christ as King – separating the sheep and the goats. There is a list of works Christ finds among the sheep but not the goats. In truth, these things are the bare minimum of love. Christ is not looking for heroics. He does not “need” these things from us. The works of mercy are what is asked of us as human beings, and performing them is what brings our humanity to life. If this is too much for us, then we might be batting for the wrong team. #mysundaybest with @rosiehill425 #mymasstakeaway with @tojesussincerely

A post shared by Kirby Hoberg (@underthyroof) on Nov 26, 2017 at 9:22am PST

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When did I see you hungry and feed you, MOM! I am SOOOOO hungggryyyyyy… Or thirsty and gave you drink? (3AM) Moooooom!!!! I need water… When did I see you naked and clothe you? NO PANTS! NO PANTS! Or ill, and care for you Mama. My tummy feels funny… When did I see you a stranger? Nobody wants to talk to me, mama… Or in prison, and I sat with you? I’m only grounded because you HATE ME!!! 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.' #mymasstakeaway #mysundaybest

A post shared by Ginny Kochis •Not So Formulaic (@ginnykochis) on Nov 26, 2017 at 8:56am PST

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How will you welcome a dirty Jesus this season? The Gospel reading from Mass today – “whatever you do to the least of these you do to me…” – was one of my first moments of seeing Jesus alive. I was 19 and in San Diego for Christmas with my Hindu parents and Jewish godparents serving homeless families on Christmas morning at a Benedictine monastery, alongside a Baptist marine. Did you get all that? I was still searching at that time, but it was the first glimmer of an answer from God about what he had in store for me. • Mother Teresa was known for reminding us that Jesus comes to us in the least of these – in distressing disguise. In the face of those who disturb us the most – those on the margins – we find Jesus. He is with the least. I know I don’t do as much as I used to do to welcome those in distress, but I like to think that Jesus didn’t just mean us to serve in shelters or in programs. He asks us to go into the darkness right where we are. • There are days when I am in distress – where I am broken – and Jesus meets me there. Those who tend to my spirit do so alongside Jesus who is there with me. Our families – especially those who hit our trigger buttons – they are our mission field and Jesus meets us there. When we go to the broken places – in us, in our families, in the world – we find Jesus in distressing disguise. May we be ready to meet him there and visit/feed/clothe/serve him there. ❤️ #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Rakhi McCormick (@rakstardesigns) on Nov 26, 2017 at 10:11am PST

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Happy Sunday! #MyMasstakeaway for today based on this reading: strive to do good always. It’s not enough to not do evil, but to do good whenever the opportunity presents itself. It is easy to see Christ in those closest to us (our friends our family, we want to always do good for them) but it is more difficult to recognize Him in the stranger. ❤️

A post shared by Carolyn Robinson (@robinsonc814) on Nov 26, 2017 at 10:13am PST

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“Receive communion by making a throne: one hand under the other, ready to receive our great King.” – St. Cyril of Jerusalem✝️ #mymasstakeaway and #lovethewordtakeaway came from today’s humbling gospel reading. Here we are, celebrating Christ the King of the Universe, and today’s message focuses upon everyone else but the “Man of the Hour.” Feed the hungry…clothe the naked…minister to those in prison. These words, spoken by the same Christ child born in Bethlehem that the heavens welcomed with a special star! The one heralded by the songs of angels! The baby boy visited by wise men bearing costly gifts fit for a King! And yet, He sets aside any pomp and circumstance to remind his followers of their duty to love God and care for their neighbor. Whoever cares for the least, gives God the most. The reaction of the disciples is classic: I picture them questioning each other in hushed tones and exchanging bewildered looks, asking “how did we miss those times that our Lord was possibly in distress? How could we have failed to give him anything less than our utmost reverence and attention?” Yes, how indeed. I thought about that a lot during communion today. He deserves nothing less than my entire focus and attention in receiving his Word and then his Body and Blood. This time of year, with the rush of the holiday preparations clamoring in my mind for attention … well, it’s pretty difficult to stay truly present in mass. Even communion. But I am resolving to put our King at the top of every list I am making (and checking it twice!) so that during this Advent, I keep my eyes on the horizon instead of the holiday, seeking that sacred star to announce the arrival of the Messiah – our Lord and King. #crownhimwithmanycrowns #christthekingoftheuniverse #catholicwomen #blessedisshe #catholiclife #shereadstruth #alltheglorytogod #tojesussincerely #biblestudyevangelista #sparksthroughstubble

A post shared by Julie Habiger (@sparksthroughstubble) on Nov 26, 2017 at 2:17pm PST

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#MyMassTakeaway: I loved this line in today's second reading from 1 Corinthians. So fitting for the feast of Christ the King. It makes you stop and wonder, is God really Lord of my life? I know I don't always live up to Him being my all in all. That's partly why we founded Gloriam, to have a business that puts Him first in everything. . . . #catholic #catholicchurch #catholicartisan #catholicbusiness #catholicsmallbusiness #church #churchwork #churchworker #catholicwedding #catholicbride #spokenbride #priest #catholicpriest #instacatholic #marketing #catholicmarketing #faithbasedmarketing #evangelization #bissisterhood #catholicentrepreneur #catholicmillenial #parish #instacatholic #gloriam #gloriammarketing #admajoremdeigloriam #forhisgreaterglory

A post shared by Gloriam Marketing (@gloriammarketing) on Nov 26, 2017 at 3:34pm PST

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#MyMassTakeaway Today was the feast of #ChristTheKing (or officially: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe). Jesus is Lord and Ruler of ALL people. Whether a person is a believer or not, Christ is the sovereign king. In the end, we will be judged by Him. But, as our deacon put it, we know what will be on the test. Today's readings give us the question: did we see Christ in every person and are we acting like it; are we practicing works of mercy or are we complacent? But we can't just stop there; we must lead others to Christ. We must proclaim the truth: that Christ our King loves us so much that He died for us do that we can spend all eternity with Him. #CSMI #CatholicsofInstagram #Catholic #MassReflection

A post shared by Kate Hendrick (@stumblingtowardsainthood) on Nov 26, 2017 at 9:11pm PST

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Such a powerful homily today from Fr. Paul at the Feast of Christ the King! This is #MyMasstakeaway for today: Christ as our Shepherd and King has two very different meanings- a shepherd is poor and humble, where a king is rich and exalted, they lead very different lifestyles, although both the shepherd and King come together in the person of Christ, just like at his birth, both shepherds and kings came to see him. Sometimes it is hard to truly see Him as a king, because we used to revolt against a king, we do not want to be ruled over by a king, but Jesus is not like any of the earthly rulers we have. Christianity is not free. Not at all. It costs. It costs our whole heart, mind and life. Jesus says, this is what I want from you: EVERYTHING. I want all of it, 100%. BUT, as soon as we give freely, all, He is there. As He receives from us, he gives himself in return. When we give to Him our stress filled lives, He gives us His, the Prince of Peace. As we give our broken heart, we receive His strong heart. As we give our dark mind, we get His, the King of Light. He gives back everything but better. All He has will be ours. And how do we enter in this relationship? By staring with "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…" and most of times, the people who are closest to us are the ones who need our help. Can we see Jesus in them? Let's ask the Lord to increase our love, let's start there, because the only infinite capacity humans have is love! And let's remove everything from the throne of our hearts (pleasure, $, material things, family, work) and let Him lead and reign. — #thewordofgod #drawclosertogod #lovegod #homily #sermon #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #jesus #christ #king #kingofuniverse #love

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on Nov 26, 2017 at 8:30pm PST

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Happy Fest of Christ the King! Today I reflected on the Old Testament, when the Israelites demanded a King be put over them. Samuel warned against a King, saying that the people would be his slaves (1 Samuel 8:10-22). Still…they cried out for that slavery, instead of being ruled by God alone. Flash forward to the present. Jesus Christ reigns and can be found in the tabernacle or on the altar at Mass. We can encounter him and receive him into our body. Yet, still, many are over-ruled by the desire to relax on Sundays, rather than to keep holy the Sabbath. After a long week, Sunday has been turned into the day to sleep in and lounge around, watching football. Worship of the highest King eternal has been removed entirely from the day he set aside for our rest. I am reminded of our oldest son's baptism, when the priest said that baptizing a child and then never bringing them back to Mass, is like throwing them a banquet feast, and then never feeding them again. It's spiritual child abuse. May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

A post shared by Kimberly Cook (@kimberlycook.me) on Nov 26, 2017 at 2:35pm PST

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass Takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.