Nov 23 – Feast of Christ The King
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a feast in the liturgical year which emphasises the true kingship of Christ.
It was meant to respond to the rise of atheism and secularization. For the Roman Rite, it was instituted by Pope Pius XI. In 1970, its observance was moved from end of October to the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and thus to the end of the liturgical year.
- Wikipedia
2 Sam 5:1-3
Col 1:12-20
Lk 23:35-43
“…today, you will be with me in paradise.”
It was on this very day, 10 years ago, that we cremated dad and bade him farewell. Some people have lasting memories of particular moments during wakes, at the funeral masses or even at the columbarium. I somehow don’t have any specific recollection of the 5 days that whizzed by after he passed away. I know many, many people came to the house to pay their respects and relatives flew in from Malaysia and Australia.
My one abiding memory though, is how each day/night as I moved around and sat with each group of friends/acquaintances, there was an underlying sense of joy. Dad had always been ‘the life of the party’ and till today, I still hear the laughter that resonated among those gathered to celebrate his life. I have often wondered why I hardly felt any sadness/sorrow during those days of mourning. Maybe it was because I met so many people who had so many good things to say about him. I do recall my secondary school mates helping us to ‘clear out’ the wine cellar…
I remember having to call mum (who was visiting my brother in Perth) and my sister (who was travelling on work), to inform them of dad’s condition just two days prior to his death and asking them to make their way back. All mum said was, “Please get dad baptised.” It took a while for me to process the instruction – I knew dad had started his RCIA journey a few years back, but I wasn’t sure if he had finished it. By God’s grace, I found a priest to perform the baptism and the first thing I told mum when she got to the hospital was that it had been done.
Over the intervening years, I had questioned myself a few times – did I truly grieve my father’s passing? Or was I simply numb to the grief and just shut out any emotion as a coping mechanism? Today, I can confidently say that through my gift of music and all the opportunities I have had to serve the Lord, it is dad – the man I looked to as my role model (of sorts) – who has enabled me spread joy to those around me. Knowing that he is now looking down on me from heaven each time I play my violin (and still laughing in disbelief) brings me immense joy. And…perhaps with the next instrument I pick up – the acoustic guitar – I may be able to spread that joy even further. Just like dad used to do each time we had a party at home.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am pretty sure most of us has lost a loved one (or two) and we each have had to get through our own stages of grief. How each of us chooses to ‘process’ the grief is entirely up to us. But in the process, let us look for that moment when we let God in. Because in hindsight, it just might give us a slightly more hopeful perspective.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: We pray for all those who are grieving the loss of a parent, spouse, child or a loved one. Father, cradle them in your loving arms and assure them that their dearly departed are safe in those same welcoming arms of yours.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the times You have come into our lives and blessed us with your infinite love, everlasting joy and unending hope.
OXYGEN 
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