From Our Pastor: 34th Sunday In Ordinary Time

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. First check out the mural of Christ the King and High Priest in our main entryway above the door. Look up! It’s a great rendition. All the world is gathered together by our eternal King. This feast the readings seem strange. We would think kingship, and so we would expect a conquering mighty King.

The readings talk about a good shepherd and whether we did corporal works of mercy. This, brothers and sisters, is the kingship of Christ. He is a King who seeks out the lost and separates the good and bad. He is a King who comes to take account for how we have followed how He called us to live. When our King returns, He expects you have lived this life of faith, and if we don’t, it’s eternal punishment. If our King returns and finds you have lived this life of faith as He commanded, the righteous are welcomed to eternal life! Our Eternal High Priest and King is very different in what He sees as power and might. He sees it as an opportunity for justice, mercy, and most especially true and self-giving love.

Lastly, we are just beginning the feasibility study for our capital campaign. I know things have been delayed, so more information is coming soon. I highly encourage you to see the opportunity to give before the end of the year to the campaign if it helps you with your tax write offs! An opportunity to support the parish while getting the maximal gain in lesser taxes.

We have gained so many new families lately! If you are one of them, please come find me so I can meet you! If you see new faces, keep reaching out and welcoming them; they may be one of these wonderful new families, or they may be someone who is thinking of joining the parish! What a great opportunity to be good stewards of Hospitality. St. Francis keeps growing! Praise the Lord for these new blessings and your loving welcome!

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday! Remember to truly remain a thankful people for all the blessings God gives us! See you in this very short Advent season! Prepare the way of the King, a little helpless baby.

-Rev. Steven Arisman