Lord, you are our KING! Because of YOU, we fear no one and nothing. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that we are all part of His Kingdom and thus must remain loyal and faithful. If we truly belong to Him, we should know His truth and listen to His voice. We hear so many voices in the world, and sad to say, often we allow these voices to drown the voice of the Good Shepherd, Christ the King. He is the King of the Universe; if we listen attentively to His voice, He wants to share His victory with all who have FAITH in Him. His Kingdom is of TRUTH and LOVE.

As we approach Christ the King, the Gospel speaks about the events that will unfold at the end times, which worries and scares us. So, Jesus warns His disciples not to focus on fear which could paralyze and even overwhelm us but instead on trust and hope and on salvation and eternal life.

The words of Jesus point to the end of time and the second coming. The end times will surely come; no one knows when because only God the Father knows when it will happen.“

Jesus reminds us that God does not force or push people to do good. He wants us to do good from the goodness of our hearts. Examining the widow in the Gospel offering, the Lord teaches that it is not so much the quantity as the quality of our giving that matters. Giving from our hearts has far more value than giving from our surplus. As God does not force people, we should think the same and not try to coerce or manipulate God. Remember, God’s ways are not man’s ways.

A scribe asked Jesus which is the first of all the commandments. Jesus answers by citing the famous Shema: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.