Today, 26th of December, we celebrate
Saint Stephen
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
R./ The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R./ The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R./ The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R./ The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."
Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
Today’s Gospel presents a striking scene of two kingdoms in stark contrast. Pilate, a man of earthly power, questions Jesus, the King of a heavenly realm. Pilate is puzzled, wondering how this seemingly vulnerable man before him could claim kingship. Yet Jesus calmly clarifies: «My kingdom is not of this world.» He reveals that his kingship does not rely on earthly might, but on truth and sacrificial love—a love so powerful that it transforms, rather than dominates.
This encounter invites us to reflect on our own understanding of authority and power. Pilate, like many of us, viewed authority in terms of control and dominance. But Jesus shows us a different path: his kingship is defined by self-giving love, by handing himself over to fulfillthe Father’s will. He willingly embraces suffering to show us the boundless depth of God’s love.
Jesus calls each of us to listen to his voice and follow him as members of this kingdom of truth and love. In a world that often celebrates power for its own sake, we are invited to serve, to love, and to lay down our lives for others, just as our King did. True strength is found not in control, but in faithfulness and sacrifice.
As we stand before the captured and silent King, we are called to make a choice: Will we embrace his kingdom, which often requires humility and surrender, or cling to the fleeting power of this world? Let us ask for the courage to answer, «Yes,» to Jesus’ call. May we listen to his voice, walk in his truth, and live as witnesses to a kingdom that has no end, a kingdom where love reigns supreme.
All blessings to you from Jesus Christ,
our saving Lord and king,
the beginning and end of all that is,
who is and who was and who is to come.
His peace and grace be always with you. R/ And also with you.
A. A King Unlike Any Other
Kings stand for power, riches, splendor. On today's feast of Christ the King what kind of king is shown us? A man wearing a crown of thorns, in a purple mantle to mock him as a fake king, and standing as an accused criminal before Pilate who represens the world's power. Where is true power to be found? It is in the truth of the power of God's love to which Jesus came to testify by going all the way of serving love. God loves us totally in his Son Jesus. This is why Jesus is our Lord and King.
B. A King on the Throne of the Cross
Jesus hung on the cross, dying. Next to him there was one of the two criminals also dying with Jesus. One of the strangest dialogues ever took place here. The bandit, struck by Jesus' serenity, said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus answered, "Today you will be with me in paradise." A condemned man dying on a cross for a seemingly lost cause promises a kingdom and a paradise of happiness! This states strongly what kind of king we celebrate today: Christ, the king not of power but of truth and love and peace.
A. A King Unlike Any Other
How much have we followed Christ our king
in his attitude of service, love and truth?
Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, king of our hearts,
you were born one of us
in the poverty of a crib in a stable:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, king of the people,
you came to be the servant of all,
especially the sick, the weak and sinners:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, king of the universe,
your love went so far and deep
as to make you lay down your life for all:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Bring us your healing forgiveness, Lord,
and make us share in your kingship
by helping us grow in your truth,
your love and your spirit of service.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
B. A King on the Throne of the Cross
We have not made visible enough
the kingdom of God's love.
Let us ask forgiveness from our Lord.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, yours is the kingdom
of totally committed love.
All praise to you!
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, yours is the kingdom
of justice for even the least.
All praise to you!
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, yours is the kingdom
of the straightforward, reliable truth.
All praise to you!
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, in your great mercy
forgive us all our sins.
Live and reign in us and lead us
to the joy of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Let us pray that we may reign with Jesus
by serving with him
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
when you wanted to show us
that you are the master of all
and the Lord of all people,
you sent us Jesus your Son
as the humble servant of your love,
who offered his life on the cross for all.
Give us enough faith to learn from him
that to serve is to reign,
and that to give our life to our brothers and sisters
is to find a joy and a happiness
that no one can take away from us.
We ask you this in the name of Christ,
our King and Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
First Reading Introduction: Son of Man and Eternal King
In the vision of Daniel, a "son of man" will bring people together in his kingdom. This "son of man" will be no one else than Jesus.
Second Reading Introduction: All Glory and Power to Christ
We are called to share in Christ's victory over death and evil and to lead all people and the whole world to worship God.
Gospel Introduction: My Kingdom Is Not of This World
Jesus acknowledges before Pilate that he is king. But his kingdom is not based on violence. It is the kingdom of those who freely accept the truth and the life of Christ.
Let us pray to Christ our King, that he may reign among all people by the power of his love. Let us say: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a free people. For the leaders of nations who love and bring freedom, and for those who make it die, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a people of brothers and sisters. For those who defend the rights of others and for those who defend only theirs, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a people of witnesses. For the Christians who live their faith and for those who let their faith die, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a people of the truth. For those whose words and deeds can be trusted and for those who betray you and one another, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a serving people. For those who care for one another and for those who go their selfish ways, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
- Blessed are you, king of the universe, who came to make us a people of hope. For those who keep toiling for all that is good and for those who give up in discouragement, we pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come.
Our Lord and king, with you we carry the burdens of our brothers and sisters. May its weight be light because it is a burden of love. Be our strength now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Lord God, our Father,
you have put into our hands
a piece of bread, a little wine,
but also the growth of your kingdom
and the future of the world.
Make this growth and this future certain
by giving it the name of Jesus, your Son.
Like him and with him
commit us totally to you and to people,
in generous love and dedicated service.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
In this eucharist we celebrate how Christ freed us from sin by his blood and brought us life by his resurrection. With him we thank our Father in heaven and pray that we may be committed to him and his kingdom.
With Jesus, our Lord and king,
we pray to our Father in heaven
that his kingdom may grow among us: R/ Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant to a divided world
the peace of the kingdom of your Son.
Keep us free from the sins
for which in his love he died on the cross.
Reassure us in the trials of life
that those who serve him loyally
will share in his joy
at the coming in glory of the kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
This is Jesus, our Lord and king,
who is the beginning and the end,
the meaning of our lives.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of his kingdom. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Our God and Father,
Pilate said of Jesus your Son:
Look at the man - Look at your king.
Jesus has been with us now
and we have recognized him in faith
as your eternal Son, a man and our king.
Make us respond to his challenge
to become, like him, people living for others,
who can give a face, a voice,
a heart and a name to your saving love.
Help us to make him the beginning and the end
of all that what we are and do,
that he may be our Lord and king for ever. R/ Amen.
Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing.
May the Good News of the Kingdom spread
and enrich all peoples and cultures
everywhere over the wide world. R/ Amen.
May the kingdom of Christ grow among us
as a kingdom of justice, love and peace. R/ Amen.
May the light of Christ's truth enlighten all
and his serving love be alive in us all. R/ Amen.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the name of Christ.. R/ Thanks be to God.
