Most Reverend Martin D.

Holley Homily for Altar Servers Recognition Mass November 23, 2008 Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 2:00P.M.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have come together today to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. And in doing so, we recognize that we have come to the last Sunday in the Church's liturgical calendar. While next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, will mark the beginning of a new Church year; today, after the closing prayer at the end of this mass, we will take time out to recognize all of you, our altar servers, who have come here to be with us today, from the various parishes across the Archdiocese of Washington. And so on behalf of Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Bishop Francisco Gonzalez, Bishop-Elect Barry Knestout, your pastors and myself; I want to take this moment before the homily to say thank you, to all of our altar servers who have come here with your parents, relatives, friends, pastors, parochial vicars, deacons, religious in consecrated life and the faithful laity who assist in helping to train you as altar servers. Thank you so very much for the generosity of your time and service, in your efforts to make what we as

priest do in the Liturgy at the Sacrifice of the Mass, meaningful, holy and reverent. As priest, it brings us great joy to have your expert assistance at the altar to help make everything operate smoothly, so that when we all receive communion, we are able to enthrone Jesus, as Christ the King in our lives. Like many of us priests, who were altar servers, it is through your ministry at mass in your local parishes, that you serve in your position as a thurifer, who carries the incense, or as a cross, candle or book bearer. Whatever your responsibilities might be as a server, we thank you. I am sure that many of you who are sitting out there in your pews today have a call to serve the Lord in a vocation as a priest. You know who you are. Do not be afraid, one day to answer that call, and say "yes"! God needs you! The Church needs you! We, as priest need you, because we are getting old! God's holy people need you! Our Blessed Mother Mary, right now is already interceding for you in prayer in this beautiful Basilica. Some of you are being called to serve as a religious sister or brother in consecrated life. And a few of you, some years down the road as married men, may one day serve as a permanent deacon.

I want you to know that as altar servers, we appreciate you and we thank God for you because it is through your baptism that God has already called you to a life of service in His Church, and it is my prayer that as you continue to grow in wisdom, knowledge and grace, that you will also serve one day, as a reader or extraordinary minister. It is from all of you, who are the Church that will come our bishops, priest, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and faithful laity, who will know Gods will, and do it in your lives. Speaking of prayer, today, as we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, I am reminded of the story of, "The Trees That Prayed." It goes like this: God understands our hearts, and he hears our prayers. But does he really answer them? God answers our prayers but not always in the way we hope or expect. The legend is told about three trees in a forest, and each of the trees had a prayer. The first tree asked that master carpenter make it into a majestic palace. It wanted to become a palace where kings would dwell. It wanted to become a place of great beauty. The second tree asked that it be made into a big ship. It wanted to be the mightiest of all ships that sailed the seas. It wanted to a very important ship, and when it came along it wanted other ships to move aside.

The third tree wanted to be made into polished wood so that it could become a cathedral. It wanted to be made into the tallest and most important building in the land. According to the legend the master carpenter came along and cut the trees. The first tree was cut into rough boards, and the boards were used to make a stable and a wooden manger. It wasn't a palace, but it was the home of the Prince of Peace. Thirty years later the master carpenter came and cut the second tree. Once again the boards made into a fishing boat. It wasn't the greatest of all ships, but on its planks stood the Lord of lords. Three years later the master carpenter cut the third tree. Instead of a steeple and beautiful cathedral the tree was used to make a cross. And from that cross hung the Savior of the World who fulfilled for us the promise of faith, hope and love, that we would share everlasting life with Him. So the prayers of the trees were answered. Prayer is a communion with God. It is our complete and unselfish response to the presence of God. This is mature prayer. When the door of mature prayer is opened then life will take on a new meaning. Then God will be able to use our lives in order to accomplish his purpose in the world.

This means that God will answer our prayers not on the basis of what we want but on the bases of what we need. He will fulfill His will and do His work in our daily lives. Today's scripture readings for the last Sunday of our Liturgical Year, reminds us that we are called to allow Christ the King to reign in our Church, in our homes, in our hearts and in our daily lives. In the first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (34:11-12; 15-17), God consoled and encouraged the Jewish exiles in Babylon through the prophet, and told them that the early rulers he had placed over them had failed in their duty to take care of the needs of His people, and that they would return to their own country where once more He Himself would be their ruler and He would rule mercifully, kind and justly. He described the relationship between His people and Himself as to the image of a flock of sheep and its shepherd. He had come so that His sheep might have life and have it to the full (eternal life). The Son of Man came on earth as man to give life to all people eternal life. He founded the sheepfold, the Chosen People, the Kingdom of God on earth, to prepare for the entry into heaven all who will enter its gates.

We are fortunate to be members of the Kingdom of Christ. We have a king who has proved His love by dying for us in order to give us life. By His sufferings, our wounds are healed; by His death on the cross He has conquered death; by His resurrection He has made our physical death the doorway that leads to everlasting life. In the second reading today,(1Cor:15:20-26, 28), St. Paul's message to the Corinthians, and to us, is that Christ began His triumphant reign at the moment of His Resurrection and that it will continue on earth until His last opponent, even death itself is conquered. Then He will hand everything over to the Father, and together with the Holy Spirit, they will reign forever. According to Paul, we have every reason to rejoice today on this Feast of Christ the King, and to render all gratitude and glory to Him, because we have the great blessing and promise that we can become members of His Kingdom after our life here on earth. Christ lived to teach us the truth and to show us the way to Heaven. He died to conquer our death and earn for us eternal life. He rose from the dead to prove He had overcome sin and death and to open the gates of heaven for us. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we follow Him we are following the King who can lead us to

victory. Christ has promised an everlasting reward to all who serve Him and who serve the lowly. From the Gospel of Matthew (25: 31-36), Christ describes His role as that of a King, who sits on a glorious throne, and pronounces judgment on humanity, separating the good from the bad. And His decision will be final and forever. He tells us that the way to get to heaven is to serve Him, and to serve the most needy members, who are the poor. Those who are hungry, sick, naked, imprisoned and so forth, who are either our neighbors here or around the world through the corporal works of mercy. In giving our time, talent and treasure to the poor, we do not forget that Christ's refers to the poor not only in their bodily needs, but there are many of our brothers and sisters who are hungry and thirsty for the spiritual works of mercy. They may be spiritually sick through their worldliness of sin, or imprisoned because of their addictions and greed. To pray help them through the spiritual works of mercy is to serve Christ the King. Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta put today's gospel in perspective quite clearly when she said, "At the end of our earthly life, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much

money we have made, or how many great things we have done." We will be judged by, "I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in." "Hungry, not only for bread but hungry for authentic love; naked not for clothing, but naked of human dignity and respect; homeless not only for shelter, but homeless because of rejection." "To see Christ in every human being is to see Christ the King." Today's Feast of Christ the King was instituted as a rallying call to all Christians to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ the King over all earthly powers, kingdoms and peoples. This call is very necessary in an age when worldliness and earthly ambitions are drawing the minds of people further away from God and Christ, and from their interest in eternal life. Our twenty first century is beginning to see not only the return of more paganism in countries around the world who are denying the existence of God, but even nations that were once Christian have been forced to live under atheistic governments which forbid the public practice of religion.

It was Pope Pius XI who instituted this Feast in honor of Christ the King, to counteract and stop this growing infidelity; and he wanted to remind all Christians that they owe their faithfulness and loyalty first to Christ the King, who by His Incarnation has made us adopted children of God and future citizens and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Unlike the earthly kings who rightly expect their loyal subjects to die for them and their nation if need be, Christ our King, died for us in order to make us free citizens of His Kingdom in heaven. While Christ the King does expect us to be ready to die for Him and for the Kingdom if the occasion arises, and although down through the ages in the history of the Church some have been become martyrs. He does not demand this supreme sacrifice from the vast majority of us. What He does expect and demand is not that we should die for Him, but that we should live for Him, by serving Him and our neighbor, through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in order that we might be live in His Kingdom forever. Today, in Holy Communion with our loving King, let us each pledge to Him our hands and our hearts. But first, let us do it together. I invite you to say after me the prayer of consecration to the King of the Universe. This prayer gains us the

plenary indulgence if we add prayers for the Holy Father, and confess and receive Communion within three weeks. Here is the prayer: "O Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you King of the Universe. All that has been created has been made for you. Make full use of your rights over me. I renew my baptismal promises renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps. I promise to live a good Christian life and to do all in my power to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer you my efforts so that all hearts may acknowledge your sacred kingship and thus the kingdom of peace be established in the world. Amen

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