On December 11, 1925, Pope Pius IX released an encyclical called Quas Primas on the feast of Christ the King. In his writings, the Church calls us to acknowledge Christ’s kingship with our whole lives:
He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘as instruments of justice unto God.’ (Quas Primas, 33).
It is beautiful to ponder the myriad ways Jesus Christ can reign in your life. Does Christ rule in your life? If he doesn’t, what does? Your frantic schedule? Your to-do list? What gets in the way of submitting your life to Jesus in a powerful, real way?
As we approach the Season of Advent, know that there will be a number of ways you can enter into Advent and pray with us. However, if you are to do that successfully, it means you have to let go of something first to be free to enter in and encounter Jesus the King in your life. Are you willing to let go of something on the schedule this Advent so He can rule in your life?
Please check out the Advent schedule and ask Jesus to guide you where he wants you to spend your Advent this year.
Lastly, I want to say: Happy Thanksgiving! It is already upon us! I can’t believe it. This time of the year, especially when the snow begins to fly, is when I spend time with Simon and Garfunkel music and enter into this time of winter and gratitude. With that said, I will let Art Garfunkel share words that speak to my heart, especially in being here at this parish with you!
“Grateful, grateful, truly grateful I am, grateful, grateful, truly blessed and duly grateful.”
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy
