The Solemnity of Christ the King (Year C)

The choice of today’s gospel passage in the lectionary appears to be twofold. Firstly, the inscription above the crucified Christ reads, ‘This is the King of the Jews’, one of the scriptural references to Christ’s kingship – although that reference is more complicated than it first appears. Secondly, the feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year and the end of the year-long journey through the gospel of Luke. Given that the second half of the gospel is a physical and psychological journey towards Jerusalem and the death that awaits Jesus there, it is fitting that the final reading for the liturgical year is the crucifixion.

When the feast of Christ the King was first conceived by Pope Pius XI in 1925, its intention was to emphasise the majesty and power of Jesus Christ, King and ruler of the world. However, our understanding of ‘king’ as it can be applied to Jesus has changed significantly in the intervening years. Despite earthly notions of kingship and the role of the Messiah, Jesus completely rejected such expectations and assumed the role of servant to the poor and outcast. As we have seen throughout this year, the gospel of Luke depicts in great detail the emphasis and priority that Jesus gave to the lowly and marginalised.

The theme that flows through the gospel is again captured in the account of the crucifixion. At this most critical point, it is a criminal, crucified alongside Jesus, who responds in faith to Jesus and asks to join Jesus when he enters into his kingdom. The criminal has a much better idea of the nature of the sort of king that Jesus really is than is revealed by the sign that Pilate has had nailed to the cross.

(Reflection by Greg Sunter)

2022 Graduation Mass and Candle Ceremony

On Monday 12th December at 12:00pm we will be celebrating the Graduation of the Year 6 class of 2022 with a Mass in our school hall. We will also be holding the traditional candle ceremony, where Year 6 Leadership in the Sts Peter and Paul Community will pass from the current Year 6 students, onto our upcoming leaders for 2023.

All families of Year 5 and 6 students are invited to join us for this very special occasion.

Have a blessed week,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator