From the Pastor – Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

November 27, 2017

From the Pastor – Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

We celebrate today what is popularly and traditionally called the Feast of Christ the King. This is also the beginning of the last week of our Catholic Liturgical Year, as the New Year begins with Advent next Sunday. We often mention that time is a gift to us; this idea of measuring Church time is also a gift, but do we truly appreciate it?

People tend to say “I go to church.” In reality, Christ does not call us to “go” to church; He calls us to be Church. We should live our lives in such a way that it is clear we are Catholic and Christian and part of Christ’s Kingdom, for He is our King. Were you aware that the name “Christ” is a royal title in itself? In Greek it means “the anointed king.”

St. Paul referred to the Lord as “king of kings and lord of lords,” a phrase with which we are familiar. If we accept Christ as our King, and if we live our lives as His disciples and followers we are certainly part of His Kingdom. Pope Pius XI instituted today’s solemnity in 1925 at a time when many countries were struggling with total loyalty to secular royalty. Pius XI wanted Catholics to recognize that their loyalty was to a higher power, their spiritual king in heaven.

Pius XI wrote at that time, “For Jesus Christ reigns over the minds of individuals by His teachings, in their hearts by His love, in each one’s life by the living according to His law and the imitating of His example.”

Pastoral Pondering

In 2012 the movie For Greater Glory was released which chronicles the Cristeros War which occurred between 1926 and 1929 in Mexico. It is a true story of faith, persecution and the triumph of grace which produced saints and martyrs. The socialist government, supported by the Freemasons, sought to eradicate Catholicism in Mexico by enforcing the anti-clerical constitution that had been adopted 30 years previously. The uprising which opposed those measures took as their battle cry the slogan “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live Christ the King) and many martyrs died with those words upon their lips, including St. José Luis Sánchez del Río, a fourteen year old boy.

As we come to the close of the Church’s liturgical year and hear the words of the Last Judgment from St. Matthew, it is a good opportunity to ask ourselves if we truly live with Christ as our King, our Lord and Master. During a recent retreat with other priests from around the world, we had a beautiful opportunity to reflect upon the Last Things: death, judgment, heaven and hell. The meditations presented by the priest leading the retreat were inspired by the traditional spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.

My time of reflection during the retreat made me realize how easily we (including me personally) allow the spirit of this world to influence us and lead us away from the Kingship of Christ. We too easily compromise with this world in order to get by or to be accepted. In so doing, we make a desire for human respect become an idol in our lives. In his dream about hell, it was revealed that one of the greatest sins after pride is the desire for human respect which arises from a type of disobedience to God’s law and to His will. When we choose to acquiesce to this world, we are, either directly or indirectly, turning our backs on God.

This rejection often comes in little ways that can easily go unnoticed. Perhaps its allowing worldly pursuits to interfere with prayer or even assisting at Holy Mass on Sunday. Perhaps it is remaining silent when someone criticizes our faith or our Church. Perhaps it is not turning off the television when what we are watching portrays that which is immoral. Perhaps its refusing to properly discipline our children and calling them to holiness and virtue. Regardless of the means, the result is the same, a lukewarm faith that distinguishes us very little from those who have no faith at all.

Not one of us is given tomorrow. We are simply given today. Neither you nor I know when the Lord will return nor when He will call us. What we do know, however, is that when our time comes, we will be judged for how well we lived out our Baptismal call. This is lived out first by loving God with all of our heart, mind and soul and then loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. What a blessing it is that God reminds us of this reality on this last Sunday of the year so that when our time comes, we do not stand before Him empty-handed and find ourselves among the goats and not the sheep.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 11, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we read the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. Here, Jesus teaches us in rich detail what stewardship in action looks like. In fact, this parable could just as accurately be called the parable of the Good Steward. The first thing we note about the Good Samaritan is that he is aware of the needs of those around him and responds generously. While the priest and Levi brush right past the man on the side of the road, the Samaritan is watching for those who might be in need. He has a hospitable way of looking at the world around him and so he is able to “see” in a way that the others did not, and he was “moved with compassion at the sight” of the man. Next, we see the Good Samaritan spring into action to serve this man, setting aside his own schedule and plans to meet his needs. He does not just give the man a few dollars or offer quick words of encouragement from across the road. He goes right up to the man. He cleans and bandages his wounds. He puts the man on his own animal and brings him to an inn where he can heal. He ensures the innkeeper would continue to look after him, and he commits to re-turning to the man on his way back. That is how we live out God’s commandments. That is true hospitality and service.  That is how a good steward springs into action when he comes upon a neighbor in need. And Jesus says to each of us personally, just as He did in today’s Gospel, “Go and do likewise.” ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering I want to welcome Father Christopher Angermeyer to St. Mark as Parochial Vicar. As many of you know, Father was ordained in June. After completing his undergraduate studies at Belmont Abbey and St. Joseph College Seminary. He completed his theological studies and priestly formation at Mount St. Mary’s in Cincinnati. His home parish was St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte. We are happy to have Father Angermeyer with us. I know you will do your part to make him feel welcomed here at St. Mark. I will be away for the next couple of weeks on pilgrimage with a group of seminarians and faithful. Please know that the parish will be in my prayers, and I take all of your intentions with me to the Shrine of Our Lady.

From the Pastor - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 7, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least one of the coaching tips Christ gives. “The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as individuals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well. But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. Our parish is our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ; we must invite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As you know, during the last weekend of May (5/31-6/1), we had our final push for our Growing Home Campaign. I wanted to give everyone a final update as we conclude our fundraising period. During that weekend’s presentation, I asked everyone to help us close the $325,000 gap to meet our $9.7 M goal. As we close this portion of the campaign, I am happy to report that we have reached $10.5 million in pledges and gifts, exceeding our goal by $800,000! I am continuously amazed by the giving spirit that pervades our parish. Your generosity is a tangible expression of your commitment to our amazing parish. The funds raised over the goal and any funds raised going forward will help us to address the ever-increasing cost of construction and reduce the loan amount that will be required to complete the overall project. As noted earlier this year, the Rectory project has started and is projected to take about 12 months to complete. Our hope and plan is to break ground on the Monsignor Bellow Center and Adoration Chapel next summer or early Fall. Words alone never seem adequate to express the gratitude that I have in my heart for all of you who have participated in and supported this monumental effort. Both the financial support and the support with time and talent have been tremendous and for that, I want to offer a heartfelt “THANK YOU!”. May God bless each of you for your generosity in helping us grow our home here at St. Mark.
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