The idea, dream, and reality of family is so strong and durable that we use it to describe all that is best about human gatherings. We speak of the family of nations, of our church and parish families. The greatest compliment we can pay a friend or gracious host is to say that we feel at home with them, we feel part of the family.

Throughout our lives, we retain the language and habits of our native region and family of origin. Should we return to our home after a long absence, we quickly revert to its familiar speech and practices. Our deep memory is reflected in old stories and words and speech patterns. This familiarity runs like an underground river and accompanies us wherever we go.

Today has traditionally been called “Gaudete Sunday.” The Latin tag is derived from Paul’s appeal in the second reading to “rejoice always in theLord,” and the Latin Mass text based on that reading. The irony and paradox of this Christian joy is underlined by the fact that Paul wrote those wordsin prison. But from there he could see the progress of God’s work.

The world does not seem big enough to contain the jubilation of the first reading. In the Gospel reading, the Roman empire isn’t big enough, either.The great powers of Rome are named and made to stand waiting for the arrival of God’s salvation. And we find Paul meditating joyfully on what reallymatters.

Occasionally, someone raises a surprised complaint that while Christmas arrives on Santa’s sleigh at the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving Day, the Church doesn’t catch on too fast. They may even say that Advent is a new fangled idea. Not so.

On the final Sunday of the liturgical year we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It’s easy to understand today’s scriptures as events that happened long ago and far away, or predictions that will come true somewhere, some day.

This Sunday’s Gospel is our final selection from Mark for this liturgical year. It is taken from the end of Jesus’ teaching in Jerusalem immediatelypreceding the account of his arrest and passion. In it Jesus gives his disciples hope to sustain them through his passion and death and any persecutionor suffering that they would encounter after his resurrection.

Fr. Jerry is a native of Whiting, Indiana, a suburb of Chicago. He has been a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) since 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. Over the years his ministry has included teaching high school and college, chaplaincy in a state psychiatric facility in California, and six years as secretary general of his religious congregation in Rome.

God’s laws are not intended to burden or torment us. Instead, they are guideposts that point us in the direction of good living. Accordingly, good living requires loving God and loving one another. We should not follow God’s laws out of fear of what might happen if we don’t, but rather view them as a foundation for building relationships and trust with one another and with God.

The prophet Jeremiah prophesies the end of the Babylonian exile. He describes how the weak and sorrowful people now return with joy. These are the scattered people of God: the blind and the lame, the mothers and pregnant women. They shall be led along an easy road so that no one will stumble. The Lord’s kindness and mercy are on all these weak and broken people.

The spirit of wisdom, as we discover in today’s first reading, comes to those who pray for her. Wisdom, like the word of God, carries a message of consolation as well as of great challenge. The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that the word of God, infused with the wisdom of God, is “sharper than any two-edged sword.”

Today Jesus stresses how children embody the reign of God. They are trusting and loving and have hearts that are open to love. They are joyfulwhen they are made aware of God’s love for them, and are eager to return that love.