-
November 24, 2025Bishop Keehner was greatly appreciative of our hospitality and‘spirit’of faith he encountered at last weekend’s Masses. He felt‘at home’within our liturgies and the Eucharist we shared, allowing the opportunity to witness the faith on the far side of the diocese. We are grateful for his openness to share in our Sunday liturgies acknowledging his busy schedule and responsibilities. Interestingly, Bishop Keehner is a Steeler fan though his Ohio roots would indicate that he would embrace the Browns or Bengals.On this the last Sunday of Ordinary time our feast day of Christ Jesus, King of the Universe presents us with a reversal of sorts as we contemplate the gospel reading of Jesus hanging on the cross. On the cross, inscribed in Latin, Hebrew and Greek is the title that mocked Jesus: INRI,“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical Letter of 1925 proclaimed:“It was surely right. . . .that the Catholic Church, which is the kingdom of Christ on earth. . . .should with every token of veneration salute her Author and Founder in her annual liturgy as King and Lord, and as King of Kings.“However, Jesus' kingship bears a greater truth than mere sovereignty as he voiced to Pontius Pilate prior to his crucifixion: “You say that I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” (JN 18:37). As Pope Francis exclaimed, “When did Jesus reveal Himself as king? In the event of the Cross!”Christ Jesus’intention as the Son of God was never to tyrannize peoples or nations with his ultimate power, but to empower others.
His ultimate grace was epitomized in the mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life that he extended to Dismas, the good thief hanging on the cross. As a theologian said,“So secure is (King) Jesus in who He is—the Father’s beloved Son—that He is free to serve rather than tyrannize His subjects, and to deal gently rather than harshly with the lowest and the weakest of them.Astonishingly, it is by the very means of His lowly service that all earthly tyrants will be subdued, and all nations made His possession.We quickly approach our country’s pause in ‘Thanksgiving.’As Abraham Lincoln proclaimed on October 20, 1864: “Now, therefore, I,Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellowcitizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”Though the dates vary, other countries pause on Thanksgiving with their own traditions. In Germany their day of gratitude is called ‘Erntedankfest’or Harvest Thanksgiving Festival. In early October the nation pauses to focus on the blessings and harvest of the past year with parades, music and church services. In South Korea their days of Thanksgiving are called‘Chuseok,’a harvest festival spanning three days with family reunions, paying respect to ancestors, cleaning family graves, with meals of traditional Korean foods.In Brazil a celebration of thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November is known as “Dia de Acao de Gracas.
Families gather for meals of traditional foods and expressions of gratitude. And our neighbor to the north celebrates thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, a tradition that began forty years prior to our own.with the harvest season. Similar to ours, families come together for a festive meal, taking in the rich colors of autumn with outdoor activities, and engage in hockey matches.Considering there will be several football games televised on Thanksgiving, Erma Bombeck’s insight might not be far off: “Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes.This is not a coincidence.” If we are truly thankful as believers, pausing in prayer to our “Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe,”we will be willing to extend thanksgiving for our many blessings not just in words but in deeds: “If you are really thankful, what do you do?You share.” (W. Clement Stone)This Sunday afternoon the Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be received by the students who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. May I extend a sincere gratitude to the parents of these children, providing the foundation of our Catholic-Christian faith by the values you share within your homes, and sharing in the Eucharist.Thank you! Parents are likewise encouraged and able to receive this Sacrament alongside the children.Next Sunday our new‘church year’ begins with the First Sunday of Advent.God Bless, Fr. Tim