Today begins the season of Advent and Advent comes from the Latin word “Adventus” meaning coming or preparation for an arrival. It is a time we are waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas. When we are expecting a very important person or some guests to come, a particular reality called waiting is very imminent.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King that Our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe which is to say that He is the beginning and end of everything. The readings focus on the Kingdom which extends beyond this world and goes on to demonstrate that Jesus does not rule like our human kings. He rules in humility and from the cross to show that His kingdom is different from the rest of the emperors of the world and kings of the world.

Today, we live in a world of so many uncertainties, wars, violence, disease, family disintegrations, religious violence, dangerous theologies and philosophies, economic and political turmoil. These events have pushed many to conclude that the end time is very near. Many people also have caved in on these events and gone ahead to prophesy that the end of the world is very close at hand.

Our first reading of today is taken from the second book of the Maccabees and it is good to note that one of the best known passages of the books of the Maccabees is the account of the martyrdom of a mother and her seven sons. They were willing to sacrifice their own lives rather than transgress the law and commandment of God. Despite the torture, the entire family remained faithful and offered the supreme sacrifice of their love and fidelity.