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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings: Nov. 26, 2006
By Beverly Corzine
Catholic News Service
November 26, Christ the King
Cycle B Readings:
1) Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
2) Revelation 1:5-8
3) Gospel: John 18:33b-37
No matter where we human beings gather these days, from the loudest sports event to the solemn quiet of a prayer service, one or more cell phones clang or chirp a few musical notes. As an owner of one of these useful and sometimes irritating inventions, I try to practice the adage that "silence is golden" and set my phone to silent in a gathering.
But it would be different during this particular Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults meeting; my cell phone would wait in the deep recesses of my purse with its ringer ready to interrupt at any given moment. It is not an ordinary night.
As we prepared for the meeting, the RCIA team and I were remembering Linda and Darwyn, who became Catholic two years ago. When they walked into our meeting room for the first time, we knew they were a special couple. Theirs is a story of love, commitment and courage, rooted in the love of God and the joy of becoming Catholic. Now, two years later, we knew that our friend Linda soon would be leaving.
Yesterday when I held her hand, I knew that our lighthearted conversations in the midst of her suffering were over. "I love you" were the only words left to say. All that remained were her long final hours of pain and the ultimate comprehension of family and friends that Sister Death, as St. Francis described it, would soon arrive.
Minutes before I was going to direct our RCIA participants to break into small groups, the muffled tolling of my cell phone sent a signal that really did not require an answer. Knowing looks circulated among our team. When I checked the message, I learned what we all knew: Linda had passed into the glory of God.
The readings for Sunday echo an intrinsic longing for justice, peace and an end to human suffering. Although some in society would say that the cosmic figures described in the Book of Daniel, Revelation and John's Gospel were written to scare us into submission, we know they are signs that God loves us. Jesus is the witness to the glory of God -- the faithful witness who has overcome death itself.
QUESTIONS:
When was a time that you were acutely aware that God's kingdom reaches beyond our earthly existence? When, in the midst of someone's suffering, have you used "I love you" as the only appropriate words?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"My kingdom does not belong to this world" (John 18:36b).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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