Our king is coming, robed in majesty, and we are called to follow him.

Today is a celebration of Jesus’ identity as king.

Throughout Scripture, Jesus reveals to us that he is a king who serves with humility and meekness, seeking out the lowly and forgotten. The good news is that through our Baptism, we are sons and daughters of the king, who share in this identity of service and mercy.

Jesus has built a bridge from this life into eternal life. Our king is crucified, and raised to a life that has victory over every death.

We sit, in this space at the end of the liturgical year, with our eyes fixed on eternity. This year and the ones we
have left upon the earth are a gift where we can love like He loves with our hearts fixed on a love that cannot be
contained by this world. In this last week of the year, focus intently on loving those you are called to serve in
imitation of Jesus Christ, our King.

Jesus Christ, King of eternity, open our eyes to see the way our lives follow you from loving service into eternal life and love. Draw us into an eternal perspective, that we would see the moments of our lives spilling out grace from heaven. Make us builders of your kingdom on earth that we might love with you into eternity. Amen

Taken from CCCB Reflection
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

Our life is – always and ever – in God.

Nearly two years of a pandemic has left us all weary in the experience of division, confusion and isolation. It has
been a deep form of suffering for many people, but the heart of the Gospel message is that our suffering can be
transformed and redeemed. In these times of insecurity and uncertainty, we are called to deepen and enliven our hope in Jesus.

The reading from Mark and Daniel points us to the end times, in which Scripture is clear on two things: the end will come, and we will not know the date or hour. But we are called as Christians to be ever watchful and to yearn for His coming. The antidote to the fear and anxiety is the invitation of the Psalms to find our refuge in God. Every moment of our lives is held in God’s heart. Our God is with and within us, behind and before us. There is nothing that can remove us from His care.

And so, in this season of pandemic life, with whatever it holds for you, live your life in God, and you will keep walking on the path of abundant life.

God of refuge and grace, help us to stand in the certainty of your presence among us. Teach us to walk a day at a time confident in your grace. In the midst of uncertainty, may we find ourselves walking with you on the path of life, Amen.

Taken from the CCCB Reflection
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

Jesus reminds us that trust and generosity are the way to the Father’s heart.

The Lord always wants what is good and best for our lives. He is always asking us to rely on him for what we
need and to give generously from what He has given us. He wants us to flourish and provide for ourselves and
our families, but not to value prosperity at the expense of our spiritual well-being.

This week’s reading challenges our relationship to money and perhaps the disordered value we place upon independence and security that we often place above pursuing His love and His will. He may ask us to pass through seasons of insecurity or lay down the restless pursuit of accumulation so that we learn to rely more on Him and less on
ourselves and appreciate all that He gives as a gift and blessing rather than take things for granted.

If we understand what Jesus has done for us, we know that we cannot place our identity and value in our material
wealth: we are all poor, we are all in need of salvation which He offers to each and all of us.

Salvation is not something we earn but instead is something we receive. From this place of humility and gratitude, we receive everything as a blessing.

Jesus, come and be the center of our hearts. Reveal to us where we have placed other desires and values above your love and will and where we look down upon others who do not meet our standard of success. Teach us to trust in you, to give generously from what you have provided to us, and to receive the salvation you offer to us freely. Amen

Taken from the CCCB Reflection
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

In the midst of polarization and division, stay close to the heart of the Gospel of life.

Human beings are incredibly good at making things complicated and drawing lines in the sand. As the religious leaders argue about the complexities of faith, one scribe calls on Jesus to simplify things.

Sometimes we want simple and straight answers that look more like a recipe than a relationship. In our two most important commandments: Love God and love your neighbours, we are reminded that we must walk with the Gospel of life and God’s goodwill for the world in our hearts, while at the same time, we must also walk with our brothers and
sisters as a community, taking time to listen, to reflect, to discern and to exchange.

The Gospel of life inspires us, the Christian faithful, to look to the future and create something beautiful together that takes care of the forgotten, the needy, and the lonely.

Loving God, you ask us to love you and one another. When things get complicated, draw us back to the heart of the Gospel of life. Draw us into your grace moment by moment and keep us close to your heart so that we might build the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, Amen

Taken from the CCCB Reflection
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

We walk in joy, as the Lord has done great things for us.

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you”: what powerful words that resonate with each one of us. In the
Gospel reading, we learn about the great faith of a blind man who experienced a powerful encounter with our
Lord. We learn how Jesus walked among us to bring healing through our faith in Him.

Often God works most powerfully through our weaknesses, our fragilities and in our human limitations.

Are you able to remember a moment or a memory where you experienced the peace and joy of Christ?

Do we praise and thank God daily for the great gift of our Baptism, even if we don’t remember it?

How in our own lives can we call on the Holy Spirit to bring courage into our hearts to joyfully and faithfully follow Christ?

When we recall and share the great things that the Lord has done for us, we praise God for His good work in our lives today and are given the courage to continue walking with him in moments where He feels distant. The greatest witness to our faith is to show the world that we are persons of courage, joy and mercy.

Merciful Jesus, we praise and adore you and ask for your grace to be courageous witnesses to your Gospel of life. Help us to see and love ourselves in weakness so that we might see and love your people the same way. May we offer love and healing to ourselves and each other, Amen.

Taken from CCCB Reflection
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary