The Solemnity of Christ, the King
From The Font
"My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
Jesus laid down His life. It wasn’t taken from Him. As such, none of the angels fought the Roman soldiers or the Jewish High Priests. Jesus laid down His life.
None of the pagan Romans or the spiritually anemic Jews could understand why Jesus would do that. They simply couldn’t process what was happening. (We see the same thing nowadays in politics with each side being literally unable to comprehend why the other side thinks or acts like they do.)
Remember that the idea of an afterlife which is in any way desirable simply didn’t exist in Judaism or Roman Paganism. The only thing that persisted after death was Timeo - the ancient Greek idea that we translate as legacy. For the Jews, your family persisted. For the Romans, your story/legend persisted. Beyond that, death was absolute! The idea of choosing to die in infamy was just incomprehensible.
But Jesus did choose to die in infamy. He did so as a rejection of the culture of Timeo. He does so because He is the priest, but He is also the sacrifice.
The primary lesson for us in all of this is that this world - while important in its own ways - is passing away. Many of the great saints will never be known in this world. Many of the greatest saints died surrounded by the scorn of this world. While we enjoy the respect of our peers, respect doesn’t matter as much as we think it does. While we admire the successful in this world, success doesn’t matter as much as we think it does.
The joke that I use is that we’re trying to get to Heaven, not the end of the Hallmark movie... Some things in this life will work out for us. Many won’t. But our circumstances don’t determine our happiness or our holiness. The more we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and on Heaven, the more we realize that this world - for all it’s blessings - is just not going to satisfy us as much as we’d like it to.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
Kingship is a topic which is just hard for us as Americans to get behind… We don’t have kings of our own, and our very flawed and biased history books tend to portray monarchy as inherently evil and unfair. Even as we enjoy the drama of the British Royals and give a little bit of a pass to Princes and Princesses, we generally struggle with the idea of a real government by a king whose rule cannot be appealed or corrected.
In our day, we have been watching both the president of the US and the Pope acting more and more like kings than at any moment in modern history… Beginning with Obama and continuing to the present, US presidents have “ruled” by executive order and tend to ignore more flagrantly the rule of law. The Supreme Court has become more important as the only real check-and-balance to the presidency. And in Rome, Pope Francis makes quite the show of being concerned with everyone’s opinions, but his papacy has been the most dictatorial one in probably 200 years…
Maybe if we agree with this or that king’s ideology, we might appreciate their decisions in the short term, but the election of President Trump and the simple memory of Pope Benedict XVI are both living proof that opposing ideologies are dangerous when the rule of law is subjected to human whims.
And so it’s challenging for us to think about Christ the King because we can’t help but compare His kingship to the flawed governments that we know from our history and that we see around us. What if Jesus makes a decision I don’t like? Morally, many Americans are ok with just ignoring teaching we don’t like. But when it comes to the real, eternal judgment of God, that’s not a good solution. If Heaven is not just the fulfillment of my personal Earthly desires, then this life isn’t about me getting what I want, it’s about me conforming myself to the king’s wishes. And that’s the way that the monarchy was considered in year’s past. For better or worse, the king’s subjects were expected to adapt their thinking and their desires to the king’s thinking and desires. If the king spoke with a lisp, his people started speaking with a lisp. If the king prioritized personal frugality, his subjects had better do the same.
Jesus, as King, is fundamentally different from kings in one way: He created us specifically to be ruled by Him. He loves the way we were made and His rule of law isn’t about making Himself happy, it’s about providing us with a context within which to flourish. Whereas worldly rulers may or may not try to function for the common good of the governed, Jesus created us and this entire creation specifically for our flourishing.
And that means that it’s in my best interest to change myself and my ideas and my preferences and my way of doing things to accommodate the rules and structures that Jesus established in this world because those rules and structures were made for my good… Jesus is King because there is zero benefit for any of us in anything like democratic rule. Jesus and He alone reveals us to ourselves. I can no more improve His reign than I can create a New Heavens or a New Earth.
Long Live Christ the King!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Phillip and Nettie Scurria/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon 9:00a In memory of Kathleen Mills/Massey
- Tue NO MASS
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Terry Murphy/Rome
- Thurs NO MASS
- Fri NO MASS
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/famiy
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of MaryAnne Gilfoil
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/23 5:30p | None Scheduled | MA Gilfoil | M Ernst |
| 11/24 9:30a | Michael, Cooper, & Maura | D Ellerbee | - |
| 11/30 5:30p | None Scheduled | M Rome | N Ernst |
| 12/1 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | C Guizerix | - |
| 12/7 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | A Keene |
| 12/8 9:30a | Annie & Thomas Meyers | D Hamilton | - |
Stewardship Today’s second reading reminds us that the sacrifice of Christ frees us from sin and makes us a royal nation of priests in the service of God. How am I using my gifts to serve God and others?
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| October Budget | $ 8,444 |
| October Income | $ 8,197 |
| October Expenses | $ 8,963 |
| November Budget | $ 8,444 |
| November 17 Collection | $ 2,253 |
| November Income To Date | $ 6,580 |
Upcoming Events
Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
Nov 24 Fourth Quarter Social … Potluck Brunch….following 9:30 Mass
Dec 1 First Sunday Benediction
Dec 6 First Friday
Dec 7 First Saturday
Dec 7 Parade for Christmas on the Bayou … 4 p.m.
Dec 8 Christmas Choir Concert….First Baptist Church … 6 p.m. followed by fireworks
Dec 15 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass
Dec 15 Adult Christmas Party … Church Hall … 6 p.m.
For Your Information:
Our MAUSOLEUM project is now underway. We are in the pre-sales phase where those who are interested in any way are asked to give us your name and mailing address so that the company can judge if there is sufficient interest to complete the project and so that they can send preliminary information. (Signing up is not an obligation to buy.) If you would like to sign up, you can do so at any Mass or by contacting us via email at the address listed on the inside page of the bulletin. Thanks!
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
FOURTH QUARTER SOCIAL…..NOVEMBER 24, 2024….in the Church Hall following 9:30 a.m. Mass.All are encouraged to put this date on your calendar and plan to attend. Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) Social Committee responsible for setting up, decorations (if desired), and clean up consists of Skeeter and Blanche Wilks, and Louise Magoun chair, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Sherry Lynn and Timmy Harris, Michael Lancaster, Billy and Ginny Marsh, William and Sharyn Marsh, Hannah McCartney, Sug Regan, Skipper and Christy Guizerix
CHRISTMAS ON THE BAYOU…. PARADE will be on Saturday, December 7 beginning at 4 from Tallulah High School. Kasi Ernst and Kathleen Ellerbee will give leadership to putting together the St Edward float for the parade. They will be calling on others for help and will need some of our young people to be on the float. Please offer your help!
CHRISTMAS CHOIR CONCERT…. will be on Sunday, December 8 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church and everyone is encouraged to join in this community event. Several of our parishioners are participating in the choir and we thank them for their commitment. Following the program, the fireworks program over the bayou will be presented.
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS…DECEMBER 17…will be held in the Church Hall on Sunday following Mass. Kendra Collins is giving leadership to the event; and, if you can assist her in any way, please contact Kendra, Father Ryan, or the Church Office.
ADULT CHRISTMAS PARTY
ANGEL TREE … you have the opportunity to select Angels that you may want to purchase gifts for during the Christmas season from the tree in the Church Hall. Dana Dukes is giving leadership to our Angel Tree project this year. If you have questions,please contact her or the church office.
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Will Richardson (Nov 26), Sherry Lynn Harris (Nov 29), Frances Kennedy (Nov 29), Courtney Ernst Nadeau (Nov 29), Lance Marsh (Nov 30), Valerie Paz (Nov 30)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope, Francis; our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. & Alyce Keene, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Hannah McCarty, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Jason Trichell
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Nap and Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe & Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), Randy Parker, John Neill, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Gannon Sims, Robbie Sims, Keri Post, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
