Sunday, November 20, 6pm
Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
Trinity UMC

Thursday, November 24, 9am
Thanksgiving Day Mass

After Mass on Monday, I’ll be leaving for a 12-day road trip.  I’ll head North to spend Thanksgiving week with family and friends in Philly.  Then on Saturday, I’ll head West to Ohio to visit with one of my great mentors, Fr. Jim O’Donnell, who recently moved to a nursing home in Lakewood, Ohio.  After celebrating Sunday Mass with Fr. Jim. I’ll head South to visit with some of my old Glenmary Missioner friends in Cincinnati.  Then on to Saint Meinrad, Indiana for a workshop on retirement.  The workshop ends on Thursday, December 1^st and I’ll be back for the Christmas Parade on December 2^nd.  

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I have so very much for which I am thankful.  I am grateful for my vocation to the priesthood.  I love being a parish priest and I feel blessed to be pastor of this wonderful parish.  Fr. John Lyons will celebrate Mass on Thursday.  It is always a great way to begin the day.  And Delia will be taking a well deserved few days off so the office will be closed this week.

God most provident, we join all creation in raising to you a hymn of thanksgiving
through Jesus Christ, your Son.

For generation upon generation peoples of this land have sung of your bounty;
we too offer you praise for the rich harvest we have received at your hands.

Bless us and this food which we share with grateful hearts.

Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love for you be seen
in our pursuit of peace and justice and in our generous response to those in need.

Praise and glory to you, Lord God, now and forever.  Amen.
 
November 20, 2022
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
2 Sm 5:1-3 | Col 1:12-20 | Lk 23:35-43
GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE
GROW: Did you watch Queen Elizabeth’s funeral procession? The Imperial State Crown that sat atop her coffin is “made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies,” according to the Historic Royal Palaces website. It had been made for her father, King George VI, for his 1937 coronation. It is hard to reconcile this bejeweled crown with the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at his crucifixion. Yet we recognize the crucified Christ as the king of kings, the firstborn of creation, above “thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” As we conclude the liturgical year, we are reminded that the cross, not the crown, is the primary symbol of Christ’s power. By embracing the cross – through service, sacrifice and recognizing Jesus as the king of our lives – we can help bring about his kingdom.
GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT
GO: It can be easy to distance ourselves from the two condemned criminals crucified alongside Jesus, much the way we might write off the prisoners in our midst today. Yet Luke’s telling reveals their humanity and our shared human nature. One reacts as any of us might, telling Jesus to “save himself.” The other speaks words of faith, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, our true king of the universe. As we prepare to enter Advent, let us ask God for the grace to recognize Jesus as our king. Soon we will be swept up in the Christmas countdown. By placing Christ, the newborn king, at the center of our lives, we can in turn help ourselves and those close to us slow down and experience Advent in such a way so as to fully prepare for his coming.
PRAY: This week, make the words of the second criminal your prayer: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."