The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honour: to him be glory and power forever and ever! Indeed Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, “Who was, who is and who is to come”. We began the liturgical year with Him and today we solemnly end it with this special Feast of Him as the Universal King of kings and Lord of lords, and next Sunday we begin a new one with the first Sunday of Advent.

As we already know, the return of Jesus Christ is to be the most phenomenal event in all human history. It will be the most amazing and spectacular event ever to be witnessed by the eyes of man. Its importance cannot be overstressed, for when Christ returns, both the blessings and the judgment of God will fall upon the earth. Genuine believers will be blessed and unbelievers will suffer the wrath of God. This is our faith and hope!

"In God We Trust", as we know is the official motto of the United States of America. It was adopted as the nation's motto in 1956 as a replacement or alternative to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum pluribus, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782. History records that it was Reverend Mark R. Watkinson of 'Ridleyville', Pennsylvania, (pastor of Prospect Hill Baptist Church in present-day Prospect Park, Pennsylvania) in a letter dated November 13, 1861, that first petitioned the Treasury Department to add a statement recognizing "Almighty God in some form on our coins" in order to "relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism".

In the first reading from Deuteronomy, the opening word, “Shema”, means “listen”; it also has the sense of “obey”. It's a Jewish prayer, the SHEMA. This prayer is a daily reminder not only of the covenant obligations but also of the privilege from which those obligations flow. As people of God, it's a call each day to listen and obey.

The Pontifical Biblical Commission in its 1993 document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, picked up this motif, describing the local Christian community as one “which knows that it is addressed by God (cf. John 6:45), a community that listens eagerly to the Word with faith, love and docility".

Consider how the Israelites would have welcomed the good news of their liberation from exile when it was first announced by the Prophet Jeremiah. Imagine the relief, the joy and total transformation such new development would have brought to them. Can we ever imagine how overjoyed and satisfied Bartimaeus felt when he eventually heard the words: "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He has struggled desperately to get the attention of Jesus to no avail. At the verge of giving up, suddenly, hope is restored to him. He will see again!

In recent weeks, the double theme of discipleship and the necessary reality of suffering for the Gospel has appeared regularly. Today’s scripture readings address this mysterious necessity yet again. We all know that preaching the truth and sacrificing our reputation can often be seen as bad. So can suffering – we don’t like to see it, or feel it, or talk about it. In fact, there are a lot of Christians out there who love the cross, but hate the crucifix because it seems too brutal. None of us want to suffer, but yet there is something redemptive, something heroic, about suffering. And it teaches us about the heart of Christ.

I think today’s readings pose a serious challenge for those of us who do go to church. I mean we who have responded positively to follow Jesus Christ the Lord. Like the man in the Gospel who has fulfilled every letter of the law, and wants to know what he needs to do to get everlasting life, we too are challenged to know what we need to put in order more than just showing up at church every Sunday.

I am very much aware that the modern society is very tolerant of divorce and remarriage, however, the first reading and the gospel of today invite us to reflect on the ideal of PERMANENCE IN MARRIAGE and on the value of lifelong commitment. Jesus' words on the indissolubility of marriage, especially set this ideal for all Christian couples. And we ask: Does this ideal of lifelong fidelity to one person seem impracticable for our times? Can a couple be expected to stay together for possibly 50 years and above?

The central message for us in today's readings is how to recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in others and to accept and tolerate them. Both the first reading and the gospel present this challenge to us and how to be inclusive and tolerant in treating others.

The Church still wants us to continue the same theme that we were given in last Sunday’s readings: the way to life is through dying to ourselves and be of service to all. That there is no way we can be true followers of Jesus without the way of the cross. Even though redemption in Jesus Christ gives us thepower to live a new life, it does not exempt us from human suffering. Therefore, knowing and accepting to follow Jesus is a commitment that one has to make bearing in mind the price to be paid.

Who do you say that I am? Mark 8:27

Isaiah would suffer and call upon the Lord for help. Jesus speaks of his own suffering and death and of the demands of discipleship. What use is faith, to confess that Jesus is the Christ without works of love?

The advent of the age of salvation is upon us: the deaf hear, the blind see, and those bowed down are raised up. The kingdom is made manifest around the Eucharistic table, where rich and poor alike are invited to feast.

Through observance of the Lord’s commands, we shall experience the fullness of life. Living in conformity with God’s will frees us from all casuistry about good and evil. We are called to welcome God’s word and to let it take root in our hearts.