Thirty-Fourth and Last Sunday in Ordinary Time, B:
Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

	Daniel 7: 13-14
	Psalm 93
	Revelation 1: 5-8
	John 18: 33-37

When the Solemnity of Christ, the Universal King was established by Pope Pius XI 
in1925, it was observed on the last Sunday in October (which, not coincidentally, is 
Reformation Sunday).  At the calendar revisions of 1969, the solemnity was moved to the 
Last Sunday of the Church Year.  So, in each cycle of the Lectionary, we see the concept 
of the Kingship of Christ through a different angle of the prism, as it were.  In the B 
cycle, the Gospel for the last Sunday comes, not from Mark, but from John.  The 
visioning of Christ as King on this Sunday is multi-layered; it encompasses the 
apocalyptic vision of Daniel’s Son of Man in the First Reading, the “faithful witness” of 
Revelation who will “come amid the clouds, and every eye shall see Him,” and the Christ 
who announces, “My kingdom does not belong to this world,” in the Gospel according to 
John.  Jesus’ kingdom is a commitment to truth—God’s truth, the source of our life—and 
we only understand his kingship if we can see him in his redemptive glory.

“Music for the November Feasts” gives five selections for the celebration of Christ the 
King, and all would be appropriate for use today.

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:
The faithful Witness took the stand
And answered Pilate's scornful taunt:
"My kingdom is not of this world;
To speak the truth is what I've sought."

Our King, who died on Calv'ry's tree,
And washed our sin away in blood,
Will come again on heaven's clouds
And reign fore'er, beyond time's flood.

This sov'reign Christ, the First and Last,
Who was and is and e'er shall be,
Has made us kings and priests to serve
His God and Father endlessly.

In these last days, sustained by faith,
We wait the coming of the King
On heaven's clouds, while living lives
That show forth truth and praises sing!

	LM
	No suggested tune

Propers from the Roman Gradaul
Introit:  Dignus est Agnus (Rev. 5:12, 1:6; Ps. 72:1)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and glory and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.
To him be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages.
	Give the king your justice, O God,
	and your righteousness to the king’s son.

Offertory:  Postula a me (Ps. 2:8)
Desire of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

Communion:  Sedebit (Ps. 29:10b, 11b)
The Lord sits enthroned as king forevermore;
the Lord shall give the blessing of peace to his people.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

Entrance: BFW 296 (The kingdom of Christ is an everlasting . . . )
Response: BFW 40 (All the nations will come to serve him) 
    or alleluia psalm BFW 42
Gospel acclamation: BFW 41
Offertory: BFW 298 (Christ is the light of nations to bring . . . )
Communion: BFW 300 (Christ will extend his power . . . )