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Today
we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
Sounds a little like a superhero movie. Well, in some ways, it is!
The
Solemnity was established by Pope Pius the Eleventh in 1925 to remind people
that one person and one person alone has a claim on our lives: Jesus Christ. We
are to follow his lead always.
In
the 1920’s authoritarian dictatorships were becoming commonplace around the
world. The Pope wanted to counter this emerging popularity among the Catholic
faithful.
The
Popes encyclical announcing the Solemnity said this:
Today, Jesus is talking to Pontius Pilate, who asks him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus' response is, "My kingdom does not belong to this world."
We
are reading from The Passion from the Gospel of John.
As
our former Auxiliary Bishop (and now Bishop of Reno) Daniel Mueggenborg wrote
about this scripture passage: "throughout John’s Gospel, John the
Evangelist has repeatedly described the necessary relationship between the
internal and external manifestation of faith for a disciple: namely, what a
person believes interiorly must be lived out in their actions... Such
integrity between faith and action is what it means to be a loyal subject of
the Kingdom of God."
In
essence, our acts of charity or what the Church calls Corporal and Spiritual
Works of Mercy are the keys that unlock the gates of heaven. This is the
Kingdom he is referring to.
This week we are hearing about Jesus
as the Son of Man, as the true King over all humanity as is referenced in the
Book of the Prophet Daniel and the Book of Revelation. We are hearing Jesus
tell Pontius Pilate that his Kingdom does not belong to this world.
A few
weeks ago, we heard Jesus talk about the Greatest Commandment: to love God with
all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love our neighbors as
ourselves. This is a great lense to see what Jesus is asking of us in order to
enter His Kingdom.
What each of us is called to do is to put our faith into action by showing love of our creator and love of our neighbor by our actions.
A few
years ago, on a rainy fall Sunday, I heard about a person experiencing
homelessness who had set up shop outside our downtown Seattle parish just
before Mass started.
I was
asked to do something about it.
I said,
no problem, I’d be happy to talk to the man.
As I
stepped outside to chat with him, we instantly recognized each other. It was my
friend Robert who we had worked with for the past few years with our MercyWatch
outreach in Snohomish County.
When he saw me, he broke into tears and embraced me, and we got caught up on what was going on in his life.
Some
parishioners were shocked to see the deacon hugging a homeless person.
One
of our new parishioners witnessing all of this said, “What’s the deal people?
So, the deacon knows a homeless guy.”
Yes,
I know him, know his story, know his many struggles, know of his family’s efforts
to get him off the streets.
He
was a regular at Mass in Everett. Robert was a devout Catholic who attended
Catholic schools through High School. He was now living on the streets of
Seattle and using the front porch of the Church to keep out of the rain.
After
our chat, he started attending Mass every Sunday and our MercyWatch team made
special trips down from Everett to give Robert food, water, socks, blankets and
other needed survival items.
We
also worked with Robert’s family to get him into a shelter.
Sadly,
a few years later Robert died on the streets.
Robert
lived a rough life, and often his better angels would give way to one of his
many demons.
Robert could be your son, your brother, your father, your friend. He was my friend.
Our
all-volunteer nonprofit MercyWatch walks with these poor unhoused souls every
day. Our efforts are headquartered in the parish community and provide medical
care, outreach and, most importantly, the ministry of presence to the unhoused.
Homelessness
has exploded in our area. We see signs of it every day.
What
are we Christians supposed to do about it?
Not
turn a blind eye. But we are called to do something.
In
other words, we are to show love to our neighbor. And by doing so we show love
for God.
When
we do this, we encounter the sacred through our works of charity and mercy.
This is what distinguishes holy Christian service from secular acts of
kindness.
In Jesus’ many parables, he tries to open our eyes so we can recognize His presence in the “distressing disguise of the poor,” as St. Teresa of Calcutta described it.
Jesus
reveals something important about what the Church calls the preferential option
for the poor, “the least of these” in the world in need of our care.
One
of the Church’s greatest homilists of all time, St. John Chrysostom once
preached, “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church
door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
So,
how can you help provide this care through our parish community? By
volunteering with parish outreach to the homeless.
Every
Monday night, our parish community offers a Hot Meal to the homeless and food
insecure at Our Lady of Hope’s Hensen Hall in downtown Everett. We can always
use a few extra hands for this.
If you want to know more about MercyWatch, come see me after Mass.
Jesus
reminds us always:
“For I was hungry and
you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me…”
As we grow deeper in our faith, deeper in holiness, I invite you to become a part of parish homeless outreach or even MercyWatch.
Together
we can better put our faith into action and bring the love to Jesus to
everyone.
¡Viva
Cristo Rey!
Hoy
celebramos la Solemnidad de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Rey del Universo.
La
Solemnidad fue establecida por el Papa Pío XI en 1925 para recordar a las personas que una sola
persona tiene derecho a nuestra vida: Jesucristo. Debemos seguir siempre su
ejemplo.
En
los años 20, las dictaduras
autoritarias se estaban volviendo comunes en el mundo. El Papa quería
contrarrestar esta popularidad emergente entre los fieles católicos.
La
encíclica del Papa que anunciaba esta Solemnidad decía lo siguiente:
“Las
naciones serán recordadas, por la celebración anual de esta fiesta, de que no
solo los individuos privados sino también los gobernantes y príncipes están
obligados a dar honor público y obediencia a Cristo. Esto les recordará el
pensamiento del juicio final, cuando Cristo, que ha sido expulsado de la vida
pública, despreciado, olvidado e ignorado, vengará más severamente estos
insultos…”
¡Viva
Cristo Rey!
En
México, estas palabras tienen un significado especial y recuerdan a todos el
sacrificio de una de las víctimas de la Guerra Cristera, la muerte de un niño
de 14 años llamado
Joselito, San José Luis Sánchez del Río.
¿Quizás
conoces su historia? Su historia es una de sacrificio por su fe, sacrificio
hasta el punto de la muerte.
San
Joselito creció cerca de Guadalajara en Jalisco, en el pueblo de Sahuayo.
Cuando
tenía 13 años, estalló la
Guerra Cristera entre el pueblo de México que apoyaba a la Iglesia Católica y
el gobierno mexicano, que estaba persiguiendo a la Iglesia.
Durante
varios años, los sacerdotes católicos eran capturados y ejecutados por el gobierno.
Esta persecución de la Iglesia duró varios años, mientras el gobierno
confiscaba propiedades de la Iglesia, cerraba escuelas religiosas y conventos,
y ejecutaba a muchos sacerdotes.
En
medio de esta guerra, surgió un niño tan comprometido con su fe que quiso
entregar su vida por Jesús y se unió a las fuerzas rebeldes. Sus hermanos se
habían unido a los rebeldes, y él quería ir con ellos, en contra de la voluntad
de su madre.
Al
principio, el general rebelde Mendoza se negó a dejar que Joselito se uniera a
los rebeldes por su edad. Pero, conmovido por su compromiso de dar su vida por
Jesucristo, finalmente le permitió ser el abanderado de la tropa.
Durante
intensos combates el 25 de enero de 1928, el caballo del General Mendoza fue abatido, y Joselito le
cedió su propio caballo para que la lucha continuara. Las tropas del gobierno
capturaron al niño durante el combate y lo encarcelaron en la sacristía de la
iglesia local.
Las
tropas del gobierno ordenaron a Joselito que renunciara a su fe en Cristo bajo
amenaza de muerte. Pero Joselito se negó.
Para
quebrantar su voluntad, Joselito fue obligado a presenciar el ahorcamiento de
otro Cristero que estaba bajo custodia. Pero Joselito animó al hombre
condenado, diciéndole que pronto se encontrarían en el cielo.
Joselito
rezaba el rosario todos los días y se le permitió enviar una carta a su
madre.
En
ella, le decía que estaba listo para cumplir la voluntad de Dios y morir por
Jesús. Su padre trató de reunir dinero para conseguir la liberación de
Joselito, pero no logró convencer al gobierno de que lo dejara ir.
El 10 de febrero de 1928, el gobierno
intentó quebrantar a Joselito. Fue torturado y obligado a caminar por el pueblo
hasta el cementerio.
Gritaba
de dolor, pero no cedió. Joselito estaba rodeado de hombres armados mientras
experimentaba su Pasión, mientras los habitantes del pueblo miraban con
horror.
A
ratos, las tropas se detenían y le decían: “si gritas ‘Muerte a Cristo Rey,’ te
perdonaremos la vida.”
José
solo gritaba: “¡Nunca cederé! ¡Viva Cristo Rey!”
La
tortura continuó hasta el cementerio. Joselito fue tentado por sus captores
para que renunciara a Jesús, pero él seguía repitiendo: “¡Viva Cristo
Rey!”
Cuando
finalmente llegaron al cementerio, las tropas lo llevaron frente a una tumba
recién excavada.
Sus
padres estaban allí. Su padre le dijo: “Solo di las palabras y podrás regresar
a casa.”
Con
lágrimas en los ojos, Joselito negó con la cabeza y dijo: “Los amo.” Y una
última vez, susurró suavemente: “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”
Su
verdugo lo apuñaló al escuchar estas palabras. Mientras agonizaba, trazó la
señal de la cruz en la tierra, donde comenzó a acumularse su sangre. Al ver
esto, su verdugo le disparó y acabó con su vida.
San
Joselito fue venerado como mártir por San Juan Pablo II en 2004, beatificado un
año después por el Papa Benedicto XVI y canonizado el 16 de octubre de 2016 por el Papa
Francisco.
Los
restos de San José Luis Sánchez del Río están en una capilla lateral en la
Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol en su pueblo natal de Sahuayo.
¡Viva
Cristo Rey!
San
Joselito dio el sacrificio máximo por Jesús.
Nosotros
también estamos llamados a sacrificarnos por Jesús. Afortunadamente, nuestro
sacrificio es pequeño en comparación.
En
esta época del año, el sacrificio que se nos pide es ayudar a financiar nuestra
hermosa Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza.
Dios
lo sacrifica todo por nosotros. Solo nos pide que sacrifiquemos un poco para
ayudar a construir su reino.
¡Viva Cristo Rey!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Today
we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
The
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe was established by
Pope Pius the Eleventh in 1925 to remind people that one person alone has a
claim on our lives: Jesus Christ. We are to always follow his lead.
In
the 1920’s authoritarian dictatorships were becoming common in the world. The
Pope wanted to counter this emerging popularity among the Catholic faithful.
The
Popes encyclical announcing the Solemnity said this:
“Nations
will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private
individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and
obedience to Christ. It will call to their minds the thought of the last
judgment, wherein Christ, Who has been cast out of public life, despised,
neglected and ignored, will most severely avenge these insults…”
Viva Cristo Rey!
In
Mexico, these words have special meaning and remind everyone of the sacrifice
of one of the victims of Cristeros War, the death of a 14-year-old boy named
Joselito, Saint Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio.
Perhaps
you know his story? His story is one of sacrifice for his faith. Sacrifice to
the point of death.
Saint
Joselito grew up outside Guadalajara in Jalisco, in the town of Sahuayo.
When
he was 13, the Cristero War broke out between the people of Mexico who
supported the Catholic Church and the Mexican government who were persecuting
the Church.
For
several years, Catholic priests were being rounded up and killed by the
government. This persecution of the Church lasted for several years as the
government seized Church property, closed religious schools and convents, in
addition to executing many priests.
Into
this war, stepped a boy so committed to his faith that he wanted to give his
life for Jesus and joined the rebel forces. His brothers had joined the rebels
and he wanted to go with them against his mother’s will.
At
first, rebel general Mendoza refused to let Joselito join the rebels because of
his age. But moved by his commitment to give his life for Jesus Christ
eventually he let him become the flagbearer for the troop.
During
heavy fighting on January 25, 1928, General Mendoza’s horse was killed and
Joselito let the general have his horse so the fighting could continue.
Government troops captured the boy during the fighting and imprisoned him in
the sacristy of the local Church.
Government
troops ordered Joselito the renounce his faith in Christ and threatened him
with death. But Joselito refused.
To
break his resolve, Joselito was forced to watch the hanging of another Cristero
who was in custody. But Joselito encouraged the condemned man, saying they
would soon meet again in heaven.
Joselito
prayed the rosary daily and was allowed to send a letter to his mother.
In it
he said he was ready to fulfill the will of God and die for Jesus. His father
tried to raise money to have Joselito freed, but was unable to convince the
government to let him go.
On
February 10, 1928, the government tried to break Joselito. He was tortured and
forced to walk around town to the cemetery.
He
cried out in pain, but did not give in. Joselito was surrounded by armed gunman
as he experienced his Passion as the townspeople looked on in horror.
At
times, the troops would stop and say, “if you shout ‘Death to Christ the King,’
we will spare your life.
Jose
would only shout, “I will never give in. Viva Cristo Rey!”
The
torture continued all the way to the cemetery. Joselito was tempted by his captors to renounce Jesus, yet
he kept repeating, “Viva Cristo Rey!”
When
they finally arrived at the cemetery, the troops marched him in front of a
freshly dug grave.
His
mother and father were there. His father said, “Just say the words and you can
come home.”
Through
his tears, Joselito shook his head no, said, “I love you.” And one last time
softly said, “Viva Cristo Rey!”
His
executioner stabbed him upon hearing these words. As he lay dying, he dug
the sign of the cross in the ground into which his blood started to pool.
Seeing this, his executioner immediately shot him dead.
Joselito
was venerated as a martyr by St. Pope John Paul the Second in 2004, beatified
one year later by Pope Benedict the Sixteenth and Canonized on October 16, 2016
by Pope Francis.
The
remains of St. Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio are enshrined above a side altar in
the Church of St. James the Apostle in his hometown of Sahuayo.
Viva
Cristo Rey!
St.
Joselito gave the ultimate sacrifice for Jesus.
We
too are called to sacrifice for Jesus. Thankfully, our sacrifice is small by
comparison.
During
this time of the year, the sacrifice we are called to give is to help fund our
beautiful Our Lady of Hope Church.
God
sacrifices everything for us. He only asks that we sacrifice a little to help
build up his kingdom.
¡Viva Cristo Rey!
