Christ is King Sunday November 23rd 2025

First Reading (2 Samuel 5:1–3)

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 122)
Response: “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Second Reading (Colossians 1:12–20)

Gospel (Luke 23:35–43)

Reflection:
When I lived in Sunyani, Ghana, the parish I used to go to was the Christ the King Cathedral, which, as you know, was the Bishop’s parish. So I always remember this feast day very well, since it was often celebrated with great solemnity.

Today’s solemnity reminds us that Christ’s kingship is unlike any earthly power. David was anointed king to shepherd Israel, but Jesus reigns as King of the Universe not through domination, but through sacrificial love. His throne is the cross, His crown is woven from thorns, and His victory is the peace won through redemption.

In Colossians, Paul proclaims Christ as the center of all creation: “In Him all things hold together.” This means our lives, our struggles, and our hopes find their meaning only when rooted in Him. His kingdom is not built on fear or division, but on reconciliation and mercy.

The Gospel challenges our understanding of power. While rulers and soldiers mocked Jesus, He extended grace to a dying criminal. True kingship is service, humility, and forgiveness. Christ invites us to live as citizens of His kingdom, where love triumphs over hate and mercy triumphs over judgment.

As we conclude the liturgical year, this feast calls us to examine our hearts: Who truly reigns within them? Do we cling to worldly status, or do we surrender to Christ’s gentle authority? Like the repentant thief, may we say, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Amen 🙏 
Christ Is King.

Pal Ronnie

Trump and Mamdani: A Lesson in Political Theater in the Oval

Yesterday in Washington, I witnessed a scene that perfectly captures the contradictions of modern politics: former President Donald Trump smiling warmly as he greeted Zohan Mamdani, the mayor-elect. Just weeks ago, Trump and his proxies were attacking Mamdani relentlessly, branding him a “communist” because of his progressive campaign rhetoric. The hostility was palpable, the language divisive. And now? Smiles, handshakes, and photo ops.

This sudden shift isn’t surprising; it’s politics. But it should make us pause and reflect on what this says about the system and the people who lead it. Campaign season thrives on conflict. Politicians weaponize ideology, amplify fear, and create caricatures of their opponents to energize their base. They tell voters that the stakes are existential, that the other side is dangerous, even un-American. And then, when the race is over, those same politicians pivot to civility and cooperation, often with the very people they demonized.

Trump’s behavior is a textbook example. His attacks on Mamdani were not about principle; they were about power. By painting Mamdani as a radical, Trump sought to rally his supporters and frame the election as a battle for America’s soul. That narrative served its purpose, until it didn’t. Now, with Mamdani victorious, Trump’s tone has softened. The handshake in D.C. wasn’t just a gesture of goodwill; it was a calculated move to maintain relevance and influence in a changing political landscape.

This isn’t unique to Trump. It’s a bipartisan phenomenon. Politicians on both sides of the aisle manufacture outrage during campaigns, only to abandon it when circumstances demand pragmatism. The result? Voters are left disillusioned, wondering whether any of it was real. Were the attacks sincere, or just theater? Was the rhetoric about values, or about winning?

The lesson here is clear: pay attention. Don’t take campaign narratives at face value. Understand that much of what we see is performance, a strategy designed to manipulate emotions and secure votes. When the cameras are off and the deals are made, the reality often looks very different.

For voters, this means asking harder questions. Who benefits from the division? Who profits from the fear? And most importantly, who is consistent when the spotlight fades? Integrity isn’t measured by what politicians say during the heat of a campaign; it’s measured by what they do when compromise is inconvenient and principles come at a cost.

Yesterday’s meeting between Trump and Mamdani was more than a photo op. It was a reminder that politics is a game, and we’re the audience. If we want better leaders, we need to stop rewarding theatrics and start demanding authenticity. Because until we do, the cycle of outrage and reconciliation will continue, and the people paying the price will be us.

Pal Ronnie

MTG Leave Washington

A Shocking Turn in Georgia’s 14th District: The Sudden Resignation of Marjorie Taylor Greene

By Pal Ronnie

Yesterday, the political world was stunned when Marjorie Taylor Greene, the fiery congresswoman from Georgia’s 14th District, announced that she will resign effective January 5th of next year. The news rippled through Washington with force, not only because of her national profile, but because it came on the heels of a dramatic break from party leadership. She was very loyal to the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement for the record. 

And just a week ago, Greene, along with a handful of Republicans, defied the party line and supported a bill demanding the release of the infamous Epstein files. The move was strongly opposed by President Donald J. Trump, who has remained the central force of the Republican Party. Yet Greene and the others pushed forward, claiming it as a victory for transparency and accountability. For a moment, it looked as though they had won a small but symbolic battle.

Then came the whiplash. Greene’s resignation announcement blindsided allies and critics alike. Reports say the President was furious, referring to her on national television as “Marjorie Traitor Greene.” It was a harsh and very public rebuke, capturing the brutal and unpredictable nature of politics today.

And that’s the lesson: politics has no permanent friends, only permanent interests. One moment, people stand united; the next, they are ready to turn on each other. “Et tu, Brute?”, the famous words Julius Caesar uttered as he was betrayed, feel fitting here. The struggle over the Epstein files became a microcosm of a larger war within the GOP: a battle between youthful idealism and the entrenched structures of power.

When you enter Congress young, loud, and idealistic, as Greene once did, you may believe you can take on any fight. But sooner or later, reality asserts itself. The House is the House. Its rules are old, sharp, and unforgiving. They were built long before any single politician arrived, and they will remain long after any one politician leaves.

Trump knew this when he spoke of “draining the swamp.” But the swamp, as it turns out, is deeper and older than most can imagine. You can fight it, but you cannot uproot it alone. That truth has cost Trump dearly, many of his supporters feel he failed to deliver on that promise, and yet he now presides over the very machinery he vowed to dismantle.

The saga of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s rise, rebellion, and resignation is another chapter in the endless story of Washington power. Victories are fleeting. Battles are fought in the open, but wars are fought in the shadows. And every now and then, a moment like this pulls back the curtain just enough for us to see what lies beneath.

Good Luck, MTG

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Mass Readings and Reflection November 22nd 2025

The Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

First Reading: (1 Maccabees 6:1–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 9)

Response: I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

Gospel: (Luke 20:27–40)

Reflection

At that time, some Sadducees, those who deny the resurrection, approached Jesus with a question meant to trap Him. They presented the hypothetical case of a woman who had married seven brothers, each dying without children. “At the resurrection,” they asked, “whose wife will she be?”

Jesus responds by revealing a truth that often challenges our earthly imagination: in the resurrection, those found worthy “neither marry nor are given in marriage.” They cannot die anymore; they are “like angels,” sons and daughters of God, children of the resurrection.

This raises questions many of us have quietly pondered:
Will we recognize our loved ones in heaven?
Will we reunite with them?
Will we feel toward them what we felt on earth?
If I see my mother, father, spouse, or child, will that affection remain the same?

Beloved, Scripture gives us the answers.

Yes, we will recognize one another.
Lazarus and the rich man were recognized after death (Luke 16:19–31).
Moses and Elijah were recognized at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3–4).
Samuel was recognized when he appeared to Saul (1 Samuel 28:8–17).
After His resurrection, Jesus was recognized in His glorified body (John 20; 21).

There is a resurrection. Jesus Himself defeated death. We will rise with glorified bodies, no longer limited by earthly needs, desires, or passions.

But there will be a difference:
Our relationships will be transformed.
Earthly roles such as spouse, parent, or sibling will fall away.
In heaven, all are brothers and sisters, children of the one Father.

Earthly marriage ends at death, “till death do us part.”
There is no marriage in heaven, because heavenly life is no longer ordered toward sexual or romantic love, but toward perfect communion with God.
Our love becomes pure, divine, without the limitations of the flesh.

This is what the Sadducees could not understand. They imagined heaven as an extension of earthly categories. But Jesus makes it clear: heavenly existence is different. Glorious. Eternal. Angelic.

Let us therefore pray that we may be counted among those found worthy of the resurrection, those who will enter that blessed life where we shall see God as He truly is, understand mysteries hidden from us now, and dwell in peace as one family under the Father of all.

Today we celebrate St. Cecilia, one of the great martyrs of the early Church. She had a strong dedication to Christ and her courage in suffering. Her witness continues to inspire generations of Christians today. She is honored as the patron saint of musicians.

Wishing a happy feast day to all those who bear her name especially my dear friend Cecilia. 

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie and homily inspired by Fr. Blessed 

Politics Is Theater: A Lesson From NYC Mayor-Elect Mandani’s Today’s Visit to Washington

 

Today, the newly elected mayor of New York traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with President DJT at the White House. It is remarkable, considering that not long ago every effort appeared to be made to prevent his mayoral victory because of his alleged communist leanings. At one point, Mr. Trump even threatened to cut federal aid to New York City, a city of more than nine million people, if this young politician won. Of course he won after all.

And as we speak, that same mayor is in D.C., breaking bread with the President and engaging in political discussions with the President’s team. It is a reminder that politics is, at its core, theater. Very loud theater. Alliances shift, enemies become dinner guests, and the public rarely sees the full script.

And this is why you should never throw your life away for any political figure or party. In the end, they all belong to a very small, exclusive club. one that neither you nor I will ever be invited into.

So stay focused. Stay sober. Seek God and His wisdom. That is where your grounding and your strength will come from, not from the ever-shifting drama of political power.

~Uncle Ronnie

Daily Mass Reading and Reflection on November 21st 2025

First Reading: (1 Maccabees 4:36–37, 52–59)

Responsorial Psalm
1 Chronicles 29

Response: We praise your glorious name, O Lord.

Alleluia
Gospel: (Luke 19:45–48)

Reflection

“My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Luke 19:46)

Today the Church commemorates the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a celebration of her total dedication to God from her earliest years. As we honor her, we pray that through her intercession, we too may receive the fullness of God’s grace.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus enters the temple, God’s holy dwelling place, and finds it overtaken by merchants and money changers who have turned a sacred space into a place of dishonesty and profit. His reaction is decisive: He drives them out. The temple, meant to be a place where people encounter God, had become a marketplace and a scam center. In righteous anger, also where we get the term righteous indignation, Jesus restores its dignity.

Just as shocking as the scene itself is the response of the religious elite. Instead of rejoicing at the cleansing of God’s house, they seek to destroy Jesus. Why? Because He disrupted their comfort, their benefits, and the corruption they quietly enjoyed. He interfered with the “business” they had made of religion.

“Let Us Whip Out All Attitudes of Robbers From God’s Temple.”

The message is not just about ancient Jerusalem.
It is about us.
It is about today’s Church.
It is about our hearts, which are also God’s temples.

Yes, many attitudes today still turn God’s house into a robber’s den:

• Stealing from God’s house, taking from the poor, misusing church property, treating communal offerings as personal possessions.

• Exploitation and unaccountability,  siphoning or mismanaging finances meant for God’s work.

• Monetizing spiritual duties, charging for blessings, sacraments, favors, or miracles.

• Using the Church as camouflage,  appearing pious in church while living deceitfully outside.

• Favoritism toward the rich, honoring wealth while ignoring the poor.

• Dirty politics within the Church,  fighting for positions, forming factions, manipulating elections.

• Feeding on the sheep instead of feeding the sheep, prioritizing personal gain over pastoral care.

Jesus’ whip in the Gospel is not meant to destroy us but to awaken us. He wants to drive out every dishonesty, every hypocrisy, every attachment that makes His temple unworthy.

Why did they seek to kill Him?

Because He exposed their comfort zones.
He confronted their corruption.
He disrupted what they benefitted from.

And the same is true today:

When we confront wrongdoing, some will hate us.
When we shine light on darkness, those who love the dark grow uncomfortable.

But what should offend us is not the preacher, it is our own weaknesses.

Prayer

Lord, cleanse us.
Drive out from our hearts every attitude that desecrates Your temple, 
every dishonesty, every selfishness, every impurity,
every form of spiritual robbery.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may we keep Your house holy,
and may our lives be true houses of prayer.

Amen.

God bless you.
With Fr. Blessed 🙌

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection November 20th 2025

First Reading: (1 Maccabees 2:15–29)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 50)

Response: "To the upright I will show the saving power of God"

Alleluia: (Psalm 95:8)

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts"

Gospel: (Luke 19:41–44)

Reflection

Today’s readings confront us with the question of obedience-not blind obedience to human power, but faithful obedience to God.

In (1 Maccabees 2), Mattathias shows that authentic religion cannot be forced or manipulated by rulers. True faith flows from a conscience shaped by God, not by fear or political reward. His courage becomes a spark that rekindles fidelity among the faithful.

In the Gospel of (Luke 19:41-44), Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because the people cannot perceive “the things that make for peace.” Their hearts were clouded by pride, habit, and resistance to God’s visitation in Christ. Throughout scriptures, there are only two instance that Jesus wept. When His friend Lazarus died and over Jerusalem. 

Where Mattathias acted with courageous clarity, Jerusalem suffered from spiritual blindness.

The message for us is simple but demanding:
True religion forms the heart. It awakens love, shapes conscience, and creates peace from within, not by force, but by truth.

May we allow the Word and the Eucharist to shape our character so that, even when unseen by others, we remain faithful before God who sees the heart.

God bless you and have a blessed day 🙏. 

Pal Ronnie 

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection for November 19th 2025

First Reading: (2 Maccabees 7:1, 20–31)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 17)

Response: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

Alleluia

“Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

Gospel: (Luke 19:11–28)

“To everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Reflection

Today’s Mass readings revolves around courage, trust, and faithful use of the gifts God has given us.

 A mother in the first reading inspired her sons to remain faithful even in the face of death. Her strength does not come from herself but from her deep conviction that God is the giver of life and the one who restores it. She reminds her youngest son, and all of us, that nothing we surrender for the sake of God is ever truly lost.

The Gospel parable expands this theme. Jesus corrects the expectation that the Kingdom of God would arrive immediately. Instead, He calls His disciples, and us, to focus not on the future but on how we live right now.
Each servant in the parable is entrusted with something valuable, just as each of us is entrusted with gifts, time, talents, faith, and opportunities.

The faithful servants invested what they received. They took risks. They acted with courage.
But one servant hid his coin out of fear, fear of losing, fear of failing, fear of displeasing the master.
Jesus uses this servant to warn us: fear is not an excuse for inaction.
Faith demands engagement, generosity, and participation.

God doesn’t ask us to be perfect;
He asks us to be faithful,
to trust Him enough to use the gifts He has given us, even if we sometimes fall short.

Like the mother in Maccabees, we are called to live with courageous hope.
Like the faithful servants in the Gospel, we are called to put our gifts to work for the good of others, for the building of God’s kingdom here and now.

As this year draws to a close, Mother Church invites us to reflect on what we have done with the life and graces God has entrusted to us.

May we not hide our gifts in fear, but use them boldly, generously, and faithfully.

May God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Zacchaeus Come Down

 

Daily Mass Reading and Reflection for November 17th 2025

First Reading: (1 John 3:14–18)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 34)

Response: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

Alleluia: “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

Gospel: (Luke 6:27–38)

Reflection

The readings today center on one theme: love that costs us something.

St. John challenges us to see love not as sentiment or speech but as action. “Our love is not to be just words… but something real and active.” True Christian love always moves, it notices, responds, sacrifices, and restores.

The Gospel pushes this even deeper. Jesus calls us to the hardest form of love:

• Loving enemies

• Blessing those who curse us

• Giving without expecting anything in return

• Offering mercy instead of judgment

This is not natural love but supernatural love, love powered by the Holy Spirit.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose deast day we celebrate today,  lived this reading with radical clarity. A queen who walked among the poor, she recognized Christ in the hungry, the sick, and the forgotten. Her holiness came not from privilege but from compassion that emptied itself. You and I don't have to be in Hungary to help the poor and needy, we can do this wherever we are. 

So today’s message is simple but demanding:
Love generously. Love mercifully. Love when it is not returned.
For the measure we pour out is the measure God will pour into us, “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

May we listen to the Holy Spirit, recognize Christ in one another, and live a love that is real, active, and courageous.

Have a wonderful week 

Pal Ronnie