Jesus is King
God's reign of self-giving love

Announcements for November 21, 2020:

The location for our 11:00am Mass is TBD. I'll send a text Sunday morning with the final call - let me know if you want to receive these notifications from us.
We now have an announcement page on our website. Visit our Parishioner Portal to find it (scroll to the bottom of any page on our site and click the link).
Please be in touch with me if you need anything at all, or if you'd like to share any questions or concerns.

Dear Saints,

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

We should not doubt that Jesus is the King of the Jews and so Lord of all Nations. The proclamation of Jesus' Kingship is the absolute priority of the Apostles, who would not be deterred even by death. It's amazing to think that Jesus' first and most fervent disciples trumpeted his being King and Lord even as it led directly to their being persecuted and killed!

But then, isn't some degree of skepticism about their claim substantiated by the same evidence? What does it mean to say Jesus is King, after all, if he can't or won't protect his friends?

Let me make just two points about these thoughts as an attempt to condense an otherwise unwieldy discussion:

The proclamation of Christ's Kingship shakes things up. If my ultimate allegiance is to Jesus, then I will make Jesus' priorities my own even if that interferes with other people's agendas. If the person who wants my allegiance (or acquiescence) is sufficiently powerful, I can bank on being swept aside.

(This is why the Apostles were - and expected to be - martyred.)
Jesus inaugurated his Kingdom crowned with thorns, enthroned on the Cross. His disciples knew, then, that his Kingdom would be implemented by means of the victory of the Cross: the conquering power of self-giving love at work in a fallen world.

The Greek word that gives us martyr, by the way, means witness. Whether or not we die for our faith, we are all called to give witness to Christ the King today by trusting and following Jesus wherever he leads, bringing God's love to life wherever we go.

¡Viva Cristo Rey! Long Live Christ the King!

Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ

PS When we make the switch to Advent, our Marian Antiphon will change with the season. Check out the Alma Redemptoris Mater here.

Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the Universe