November 20, 2011 (Y-A) Last Sunday in Ordinary Time

CHRIST THE KING

“ THE SON OF MAN…

WILL SIT UPON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE…’

INTRODUCTION TO THE MASS

Today we celebrate the feast of Christ our King. When we think of a king we think of someone who is very remote from his people of who lords it over them. But Christ is not like that. He lives among us, and came not to rule but to serve. The best way to show our loyalty to him is by serving one another.   [Pause]

LORD, you say to us:”Follow me and share with one another” LORD, have mercy.

You say to us: “Follow me and forgive one another”. Christ, have mercy.

You say to us: “Follow me and love one another”. LORD, have mercy.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray [that all men will acclaim Jesus as LORD]

Almighty and merciful God,

You break the power of evil and make all things new in Your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

R. Amen

FIRST READING Ez 34:11-12, 15-17

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.  As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.  The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.

The Word of the LORD.

R. Thanks be to GOD.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Beside restful waters he leads me;

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths

For his name's sake.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me

In the sight of my foes;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me

All the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

For years to come.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

SECOND READING 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians        

Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.  

The Word of the LORD.

R. Thanks be to GOD

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty  and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed  me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you  gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave  me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

The Gospel of the LORD.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.